Heidi Marie Gerrish's Obituary
Thank you to all for the support to our family as we grieve the sudden passing of our beloved Heidi on May 21, 2022 in a tragic accident that took her life and severely injured others from our family while on their way to her sister Julie's graduation celebration in California.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, July 30th at 10:30 am at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Ahwatukee at 11002 S 48th St, Phoenix, AZ 85044 (https://www.mvlutheran.org/) . The service will be livestreamed for those that are unable to attend in person. A reception of finger foods will be provided in the gymnasium across from the sanctuary following the service. In lieu of flowers, our family asks that donations may be made to Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest in Heidi's honor (https://www.lss-sw.org/donate, 2502 E University Dr #125, Phoenix, AZ 85034).
Heidi Marie Gerrish was 30 years old, born November 9th, 1991 in Mesa, Arizona. She grew up together with her siblings in the Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee before attending and graduating from the University of Arizona with degrees in Public Health and Spanish Linguistics. During her education she was a student leader within the UofA's Lutheran Campus Ministry and was part of service projects that traveled to Haiti, Mexico, Israel, and Honduras.
After college she joined the Young Adults in Global Mission outreach of the Lutheran church and spent a year abroad in Uruguay in service. Back in Tucson, AZ, her home she loved, she went to work at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest with roles in fundraising, volunteer recruitment and organization, and communications coordination supporting ministries to vulnerable populations including children, seniors, and refugees. In addition, she volunteered her time and leadership on the boards of the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association, UofA Lutheran Campus Ministries, Women of the ELCA, the Campus Christian Center, and was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson where she livestreamed their services throughout the pandemic.
Heidi gave freely to others, loved, and experienced a lot in her life that ended much too soon. She was married, divorced, and fell in love again with exciting plans for the future. She loved her dogs, skating and competing in roller derby, singing karaoke, playing musical instruments, camping with her friends, bicycling, hiking, painting, crafting, making buttons, smiling, laughing, and dancing with her personality that would light up any day she was a part of.
She is survived by her parents Cindy and Paul Gerrish, sister Julie, brother Stephen, sister in law Katherine, and partner Justin Rheault with whom she was planning a wedding. We, along with so many other family members and friends all miss her so much, will never forget her, and put our hope in being reunited with her again someday.
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