Lucille Katherine (Roddy) Heng

Lucille Katherine (Roddy) Heng

January 20, 1920 – December 5, 2019

Our beloved Mother, Lucille Katherine Roddy Heng, was born in Nebraska City, January 20, 1920 to Michael and Ella (Kressen) Roddy.  She had three older siblings, John, Michael and Anna.  Anna died at the age of eight, shortly after Lucille was born.

These are the barest basic facts of her life that spanned nearly a century.

Lucille started school at the age of four, walking a quarter mile from the farmhouse to a one room school with her brother Mike.  Her secondary education continued at St. Bernard’s Academy in Nebraska City where she boarded during the week.  She played the violin and piano, took voice lessons and participated in many programs and recitals.

After graduating in 1936, at the age of 16, Lucille moved to Omaha, alone where she attend business school and lived at a boarding house on 31st and Dodge.  She met her future husband, Paul Heng, at a CYO dance upon returning to Nebraska City (by bus) on the weekends.

During World War II, she worked at the Martin Bomber plant, where Offutt Air Force sits today, lured by the high wages of 60 cents per hour!  She worked at the Farm Credit in Omaha both before and after the war.  Lucille patiently waited five years for Paul to return home from the war.

Lucille married Paul, October 25, 1947.  They were devout Catholics, saying a rosary every night with their “tribe” of seven children; five sons and two daughters, in a 900 square foot house.  She loved her family.  Once writing home to her mother, she professed she would never be rich in monetary status, but she had something better…”seven amazing jewels”.  Like many homemakers of her era, she enjoyed sewing, embroidery and baking.

Lucille and Paul loved to travel, enjoying the journey as much as the destination.  Lucille even continued to travel after Paul’s death on January 27, 1993.  She was adventurous, whitewater rafting the Snake River at the age of 81, traveling to Ireland and Greece with a friend and cruising the Caribbean with family at the age of 88, asking at the end “where are we going next year.”  She volunteered at Montclair Nursing Home, joined the Altar Society, craft club, bridge club and Honor Guard of Holy Cross.  She loved card games and playing rummy to the very end!

Never complaining after Paul’s death, she soldiered on and persevered.  She smiled through the pain, but she was devastated by the death of our brother Mark in 2008.  Lucille passed peacefully, surrounded by her family on December 5th.

Our mom was generous in spririt.  She passed her love to all that came near with a shy smile and a twinkle in her Irish eyes.  She was kind to a fault.  She had one vice…sweets, candy and chocolate!!!  It may have contributed to her sweetness.

She had a life well lived.  We are heartbroken by her passing, yet we are elated that she has been reunited with our Dad and our brother Mark.  Lucille is survived by six children and their spouses; nine grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.

She was a great mom!  We love her and we shall miss her!

Family will receive friends Wednesday, December 11th from 6pm to 7pm, at the West Center Chapel followed by a VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, December 12th, 11am, Holy Cross Catholic Church (4810 Woolworth Ave.).  INTERMENT: Calvary Mausoleum.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Holy Cross Educational Trust.

 

4 Comments

  • Lee Gaul Posted December 11, 2019 7:42 pm

    Tom (and Sue),
    Very sorry to learn of your Mom’s passing. She was so good to us dweeby little kids as we tried to be some kind Cub Scouts back in the day. You have our deepest sympathies.
    Lee and Diane (Bidrowski) Gaul

  • Chris Gaul Posted December 11, 2019 9:06 pm

    Sorry for the loss of your Mom. My family had a lot of interaction with the Heng family thru Holy Cross School, Ryan High, and Hinky Dinky supermarket. Chris Gaul

  • Donnie&Helen Andersen Posted December 12, 2019 9:20 am

    Rod and Carol I’m so sorry to hear the loss of your mom rod, it sounded like she would have been a lot of fun to be around. Her thoughtfulness and kindness must have rubbed off on you. Hope you guys are doing well. Donnie and Helen Andersen

  • Dan Roddy Posted January 9, 2023 2:30 pm

    Sorry for your loss Carol and Rod. Today I found a note I had misplaced when I met you in Omaha in 2005, I will try to reconnect by email. I want to go to Nebraska City soon and meet some Roddy’s I have never met. Best regards, Dan and Mary Beth Roddy, Albany, Oregon.

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