Catherine Patricia Heaston

Catherine “Cathy” Patricia Heaston, age 71, of Williamsburg, Virginia passed away on Friday, November 12, 2021. Born March 26, 1950 to George and Louise Spisak of East Chicago, Cathy was the second-eldest of eight sisters, MaryAnn, Elizabeth, Barbara, Louise, Dolores, Patty, and Christine.

Cathy is survived by Steven Heaston, her husband of 43 years, and her two children, Kristina Whitley (David) and Jeremy Heaston (Rebecca). She is also survived by six of her sisters, numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins. Family meant everything to Cathy.

Military lifestyle meant frequent moves, which meant numerous deployments across the United States and Germany for Cathy and her family. While the moves were difficult, she formed many friendships that endure to this day. It gave Cathy immense amounts of joy remaining connected with those lifelong friends and making them part of her extended family.

Cathy contributed significantly to the quality of life for service personnel by being a lead for the Village Hostess program in Grafenwoehr, Germany, providing for the welfare and emotional support of young families in very remote areas. Although the family was far from home, we traveled throughout Europe, and yes, she loved to shop in every country she visited. In addition to volunteering her time, she also worked for years at the Army Education Centers. While supporting the soldiers’ educational goals, she also pursued her own education, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management. At Fort Eustis, Virginia, she received recognition for outstanding service in the Deployment Modernization Office and was a key staff member in planning practice exercises for overseas deployments. Her final work was as a data analyst at the Defense Supply Center Richmond. OEM representatives from Rolls Royse, Pratt and Whitney, and GE all knew Cathy. We used to joke that we had jet engines on pallets in the back yard.

Upon retirement, Cathy focused on strengthening connections with and caring for friends and family. Much of her time was spent with her two grandchildren, Charlee and Kai, and on helping prepare for her third grandchild, expected in January. Her boundless compassion extended to her pets and grand-pets, for whom she made sure that they were given the love, attention, and more-than-occasional treat she felt they deserved.

Those who knew Cathy knew her to be more than the avid fisherwoman or pickleball enthusiast. She was audaciously funny, selfless, and profoundly loving to those around her. While outwardly she focused so much of her attention on others, she was also quietly dynamic - the more you got to know her, the more you uncovered beautiful layers to her personality and the more you saw her working diligently on her personal growth. One of Cathy’s best traits was to never have any regrets of leaving words left unsaid. She always made sure, before you parted ways, to give you a big hug and tell you that she loved you. Her warmth and positive energy will persist with us always.

Visitation for Cathy will be held Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Rd., Williamsburg, Virginia 23188, followed by a service at 1:00 PM. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Heaston family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Cathy’s name to the ASPCA: https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give

COVID Precautions for a large gathering

People are attending from throughout the country, and some may be more susceptible to COVID than others. To decrease the risk of spreading COVID, please wear a mask and practice social distancing when practical.