CANT BELIEVE 5 YEARS HAS PASSED.....MISS YOU BUDDY

To my bother Danny,

  I struggle to write this because nobody in this world can understand what my brother meant to me. This time of year is hard because my best memories of my brother was meeting him at my sister’s house and hugging him. No matter how far apart in life we were we hugged, said we loved each other and meant it from the bottom of our hearts.

  My brother was a good man. He knew something about what was important about living life. Despite his faults he fought against them and put goodness out into a world that is much too dark and he made it brighter. 

  My brother didn’t kneel to the darkness in the world or to the darkness inside himself. He recognized that he was valued by God who requires man to fight for his full creation with Him. Man is to exhaust himself in the pursuit of God.

  There will always be a void on this Earth for my brother that I can’t describe other than I feel it deeply within my heart because there are moments in this world, I wish I could share with him.

Love your brother,

Paul









 

 









 

Oh Dan, such memories of running hills at St. Anselm and sharing that tiny apartment and working at Alliance in NYC. We talked on the phone a few times since but then lost touch. As I think about you, you were one of the most innocent souls I’ve ever met: honest, kind, more apt to listen than to speak, gentle. I hate that we stopped talking by phone and I now learn about your passing this way. I think you were too good for this world. RIP.

My brother’s birthday passed. My thoughts and prayers needed to be in silence reverence on that day for him...

My brother loved me and I loved him. I would look forward to the holidays in later years to see my brother just to hug him and say I loved him and he would say he loved me.

Nothing like it. You can’t experience it. What it was like to have my brother in my life. My brother was a good man who feared God and had remarkable strength.

What inspires me is my brother picked himself off the ground, and carried his cross. In his lowest moment in life, he begged for Christ to raise him from the dead. I believe Jesus Christ did redeem my brother’s soul.

I bought a canoe. I always thought we would be sitting together fishing. I would be telling police stories and he would be teaching something about life. We would be old men together.

I sat down to supper and began to pray but was taken back when my son, Andrew began with a Hail Mary. So we prayed. Only moments before I was thinking how can I make this day meaningful. Moments like that make my brother real to me, makes living real beyond what science can’t explain, makes me believe in a God that needs me as much as I need Him.

I miss my brother. I love my brother.

Today my son you would have been 49 years old. Happy Birthday. You were a wonderful son and brought much joy and happiness into my life and the life of your mother. We love you and miss you very much. I believe that you are in heaven with Our Lord Jesus Christ and I ask you to pray for me and your Mom and all your siblings. Love you very much, Dad

Today your mother and I remembered you in a special way. We thought about all the joy you brought to us and to your siblings. You are a special person and I think that God in His unfathomable mind called you to heaven for His own reasons. We all love you Dan and cherish our memories of you.

It's hard to believe that you have been gone for a year now! I will remember the big loving person you were. You meant a lot to me, and I will always remember you my friend. I hope your resting in peace up there. I miss you buddy!

Forever in our Hearts
A million times we needed you,
A million times we cried,
If love alone would have saved you,
You never would have died.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we love you still,
In our hearts you hold a place,
No one can ever fill.
A light from our household is gone,
A voice from our love is stilled,
A place is vacant in our home,
Which never can be filled.
Some may think you are forgotten,
Though on earth you are no more,
But in our memory you are with us,
As you always were before.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone,
A part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
Your precious memories are our keepsakes,
With which we never part,
God has you safely in his keeping,
But we have you forever in our hearts.
Author Unknown

My Dear Brother Dan,
I miss you so much, but I am smiling through my tears knowing that you are with Jesus now and at peace. Your strong faith and perseverance will inspire me throughout my life. I love you and always will.
Your Sister, Maureen

To My Dear Brother and Friend,I am so sad that we no longer have you with us.I will miss you always.Family Gatherings will be especially painful and difficult.There will be a lonely space where you once were.I know you are with Jesus a little lamb in His loving arms in our Everlasting Home Heaven.I know we will see you again and that is such a comforting consolation.Having to say goodbye to you is one of the hardest things I have had to do.You are such a good brother.I really respect and admire your constant Faith despite your heavy Cross and hardships.The way you worked your program and lived your life has been truly inspiring and a gift to all who know you.Dan know that you are so loved and so missed.I know you are in Christ ‘s arms no better place to be.

Every child is a gift from God and Cathy and I were fortunate and blessed to be Dan's parents. He had a generous heart and knew the meaning of love and he was a good person. He will be loved, remembered and forever missed by all of us who knew him. May he rest in peace with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Very sorry to hear of Dan's passing. Have many happy memories of playing ball in front of the Heffernan house growing up. He was tough but kind and unselfish. Rest in peace.

Wow, Dan...so sorry to see you go, brother. I have so many great memories of you. Our trip to Spain, that turned into a trip to Ireland. Skiing in Salt Lake City. Working at Spirits Unlimited together. Playing basketball together. Hanging out in Arizona. I could go on for a while. I know, we drifted apart over the years, but I thought about you over the years and have had nothing but good memories of you. You were one of the good guys and will be very missed!!! My condolences to the Heffernan Family.

Tim Burgess
Glendale, AZ

Dan was the kid we all looked up to. Basketball superstar. Then he turned to running. Superstar again. Always quiet, humble and full of class. We were teammates and altar boys together. I hadn’t seen him in 25 years but my memories of Dan are as clear as day. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to the Heffernan family. Godspeed.

Deepest sympathy to Terry and Dan Sr. for Dan's passing. Reading the above tributes tells the story of a man who lead a meaningful life and had great value both as a family member and as a friend. May he rest in peace.

Dan was a dear friend and a gentle soul who taught me the importance of faith and perseverance. I first got to know him in college at St. Anselm. I would see him in the gym shooting hoops or in the cafeteria consuming many calories in preparation for one of his long runs. I would joke with him and tell him he ate like a shark and he would smile. Dan and I became good friends over the years. He attended my wedding, the baptisms of my children and many family get-togethers. I will miss him very much but I know Jesus will take good care of him. Rest in peace Dan.

I am so saddened by this loss and very sorry that I cannot be there to celebrate his life as I am away on vacation with my family but know that my prayers and thoughts are with you and the Heffernan family. I wanted to share with you so many who knew Dan are sharing their fond memories of Dan on the CBA XC website. He will be forever missed.

Uncle Dan, you were a great uncle. You will always be in all of our hearts. I'll always remember having fun in New Jersey and all of your visits during the Holidays. Rest in Peace.

My Greatest Friend Dan...
You are a loving, caring, peaceful, thoughtful and honest man. We trusted in one another with all aspects of our lives. Both past and present. Dealing with some struggles and many triumphs, we thought much alike. Those long, health driven walks on the boards and through parks, I tried to keep up with you! Remember fishing too at the Manasquan Reservoir. You taught me a lot about nature. You would come over to my apartment for dinner, to watch the game or a meeting, always early or exactly on time. Like clockwork. The door was always open for you. I feel a huge loss that will never be the same. You are a great man, constantly changing to better yourself and others in a very positive, uplifting way. Your smile was contagious. I admired you. I wanted to emulate you. Life will never be the same without you. I did not lose just a friend, I lost a brother. I Will always love you and remember all that you have taught me. Rest In Peace in Heaven. May your light always shine on.

Dan had a contagious smile saved for those he considered friends. He taught me so much. He was kind, smart and quiet. He never gave up and his work paid off. He had friends that loved hem and he touched the heart of those seniors who were lucky enough to have him deliver their meals. He will be missed.

Danny, my brother. I love you and you loved me in the times we shared. You were an example of strength in the way you lived and loved those around you. You have gone to Heaven but your love still remains felt in my heart. 
Rest In Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wishing the entire Heffernan family peace... my sincerest condolences to you all as you mourn this loss. Danny was a part of my childhood and will forever be in my heart... as are you all. Thinking of you and sending love and prayers. Rest in Peace, Danny.

I loved Dan and will always. He was easy to love. One smile from him was all that was needed. He was a big part of my life and I am the better person for having known him. I know he is at peace now and there is part of my heart that will always be with him. Dan leaves having many caring friends and the most loving parents anyone could be blessed with. Rest in peace my friend.

Words fail me in this painful and difficult time. So, I will share this line from Elton John's song "Daniel"
"Daniel my brother you are older than me
Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal
Your eyes have died but you see more than I
Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky"
Rest in peace my brother you had courage among lions.