Heather was a loving Daughter, Sister, Niece, Cousin and Friend.
She had a beautiful spirit and immense joyfulness for life.
She will be greatly missed and will live in our hearts forever.
Memorial donations are encouraged at www.humanesociety.org or www.atlantahumane.org
Please share stories, pictures and tributes on this site as well as other social media to honor and celebrate Heather's life.
For family contact or other information, please email Sean at seanstringer@gmail.com.
Tributes
Leave a tributeSean
RIP my beautiful cousin.
Much Love, Carisa
Love, Sean
The stars continue to burn a little less bright and the world is far less special since you are no longer here. Your spirit outshines the stars and the moon. Your friendship made those who knew feel special in every way. I am blessed to have had you in my life for 8 years. Gone but nor forgotten.
All my love,
Michelle
Love,
Sean
Remembering you on this day and always.
Love,
Sean
you will always be in our hearts like the beautiful flower you are
eternally fragrant like the perfect rose.
We'd always joked about the old cliche that we were two ships that passed in the night. We met as friends at the end of our teens, had our fun in our 20's, by our 30's we always made a point to always reconnect and talk about each being grownups and brag about our life's accomplishments...and then one day...at the start of our 40's... just like that... you just... disappeared.
Only left with echoes of your voice from conversations past and electronic emailed conversations letting me know how beautiful you had thought my life had become. You were also so proud to tell me how you finally found peace of mind that you were seeking in our life.
Now...I can only see a trail of sadness and blessings from the lives you touched. I am really trying to understand why God wanted you all to him/herself. So many questions left unanswered. I am so confused and disconnected on how you left this world so damn early in life. A closure I may never have.
There was a time in my life when you were my muse. I know you hated that when I told you that. As a younger man I learned so much from you and so much about myself. You helped me get to a higher plain. Thank you... Heather... I miss you so. I guess I always expected you to be there and always to be there to say hello.
Now..it's a final goodbye. I can only hope you found what you were seeking somewhere in the Elysian Fields.
- May God rest your soul and may we always remember you.
Your friend,
Brett
Chris Cornell – Seasons
Summer nights and long warm days
Are stolen as the old moon falls
My mirror shows another face
Another place to hide it all
Another place to hide it all
And I'm lost, behind
The words I'll never find
And I'm left behind
As seasons roll on by
Sleeping with a full moon blanket
Sand and feathers for my head
Dreams have never been the answer
And dreams have never made my bed
Dreams have never made my bed
And I'm lost, behind
The words I'll never find
And I'm left behind
As seasons roll on by
Now I want to fly above the storm
But you can't grow feathers in the rain
And the naked floor is cold as hell
This naked floor reminds me
Oh the naked floor reminds me
And I'm lost, behind
Words I'll never find
And I'm left behind
As seasons roll on by
If I should be short on words
And long on things to say
Could you crawl into my world
And take me worlds away
Should I be beside myself
And not even stay
And I'm lost, behind
Words I'll never find
And I'm left behind
As seasons roll on by
I think my hesitation to commit words to paper has come from my sadness and struggle to accept that, at such a young age, and so quickly, you are gone. You have moved into the spiritual plane, and none of us could have ever expected to have to deal with this loss so soon. But I also know that if anyone could embrace the transition into eternal life with grace Heather, it is you. You and I spent a lot of years together at Midtown West Medical. During that time we shared a love of philosophy, all things spiritual, theology, and a lot of laughter. You brought a whimsical, unique, and colorful presence to the office. I thank you for all of the many gifts you offered. My hope is that you are now living in the joy of light eternal.
For your family, I simply pray for comfort and grace during this difficult time. But I also know that time, distance, age, and even death cannot separate us from those we love. Love never ends. Peace to you all…
Susan Shockey
Wings of joy
Lift
Hearts ply
Many unto one
Spirit into all
Understanding
One kind thought
Notwithstanding
The test of life
Enlightenment's path
So threatened
A world harsh
So beaten
Young spirit arisen
Eternity sparkling
Tear into tear
Song infinite
All is all
The embrace
Peace and passion
Cross to cross
Moments carried
Gentle is
The Way
Deliver
Love in turn
Path n'er ending
Arches strong
Journey on
Heather love the light
Love, Sean
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
I still have the ceramic Dove you gave me
one Christmas.
On the front of the dove
Simply stated.. "SHINE"
On the back
" there are stars yet to shine and you are
One of them"
Heather you are the star...
SHINE ON!!!
LOVE TO YOU.
God bless~
SLEEP OF SLEEPS
We enter this world and make our entrance to a new beginning and we dream of what will become of us!
We don't know about life or death, just the need to grow and love and be loved!
We look upon this new world in which we have been placed with a smile and sadness all at the same time, we smile because we see a new world that will lay ahead for us and a sadness for life that we left behind!
We grow in a world that is forever changing as we change with it and we never stay the same, we change, we change!
We grieve for people we have lost and think about what will become of us!
We think life is forever, but forever is short and shorter for some!
We shed tears for the people we have lost and smile for the ones that we have found!
We mourn and reflect upon the people we have lost, and wonder what people will say about me when we have gone!
We depart and take that eternal rest, we exit this world and sleep the sleep of sleeps!
Written By: Raymond H. Thompkins
Written for a friend!!! and from me to you Heather , love you friend
I am not there, I do not sleep!
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the sunlight on the ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain!
When you awaken in the morning hush...
I am the swift uplifting rush,
of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there.....look....I am here....
With those I loved.
Author Unknown
So artistic, poetic, creative, soulful, giving... the list surely goes on and on. Sometimes I would read your Facebook posts and say " did you write that?" You would say yes and I was so amazed how truly deep you are as a person. Much deeper than many and we need people like you to spread that light! You will be missed my friend. I hope your soul is in a better place. I am positive your angel spirit will be shining down on all of us. You left us way too early but I suppose the universe has bigger plans for you. I love you sister! It was certainly a pleasure getting to know you. We will meet again one day xoxoxoxo
Many blessings and huge condolences to Heathers family. Words cannot describe what you all are going through. There are many friends you can lean on so please reach out to us. Heather is now at peace and spending time with her father. xoxoxoo
My heart goes out to all of Heather's family and friends. She was the most spiritual and loving person I've known.
I'll never forget the horse she was given that was old and fragile. Heather soothed and cared for that horse the entire time. It brings tears to my eyes knowing that such a loving and caring person is no longer here. I won't have the chance to see her beautiful smile or hear her angelic voice squeal my name.
Heather I know you are in heaven sitting amongst the angels. I send my sincere and deepest condolences to your family. While loss is never easy it's more difficult when it's sudden and unexpected. For your friends that you leave behind I pray for us as well. I pray that we cherish all the memories of Heather and celebrate the life she lived while she was here. She is gone too soon but will never be forgotten.
I love you Heather
Heather you came to Earth to see us, to look into our souls.
We saw your beautiful face but did we notice your beautiful soul?
You’re gone now where we only have a memory to hold and a picture in our mind
You’re gone too soon, and you are the people we need to remind us to be kind.
We will light a candle to remind us how brief was your time and ours
And how we will miss your light on Earth.
A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam
And for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world
But then it flies again
And though we wish it could have stayed…
We feel lucky to have seen it.
Unknown
Carson and Elizabeth Olinger
Aunt Maria
If everyone in this world would "celebrate regularly the fact that every human being is unique", mix in a little compassion for humanity, and strive to respect, appreciate, honor, love, and encourage, and yes,
'cherish' their fellow man, remembering to highlight often each other's strengths, for I truly do believe that every human being has been intrinsically (at birth, but possibly not surfacing nor developing until later in their lifetime) gifted individually, in special areas, and that man's basic nature is innately good. If we all would consider the worth of each other from a more positive perspective on a daily basis and believe in our hearts what I have just expressed, this world would be a much better place for us all to co-exist and co-habit. Love Always, Mums
[The original of this tribute was penned and sent to Heather as a creative writing in May of 2008.]
Leave a Tribute
Cherry Blossoms .. .. .
Reminiscing.....Heather's favorite fruit was the cherry! As a toddler, she quickly learned to ask for 'dessert first'.....especially 'Chee Pie'.....she did not want to risk eating her meal first....for she knew she might not then have room for dessert! She wasn't taking any chances! Cherry Cheesecake was also a favorite. Love of cherries kind of runs in the family.....Sean makes the best waffles with dark sweet cherries that anyone's ever tasted......one of his culinary specialties! And Jennifer loves and favors cherries as well...... .....especially cherry pie and cherry cheesecake!
Oh how Heather would have loved The Cherry Republic Stores!!! A Company in Michigan, based in Glen Arbor, selling mostly products containing cherries, currently along with five other stores in this State. Ann Arbor, Frankenmuth, Traverse City, Holland and Charlevoix. The cherry orchards most plentiful remain in Traverse City, the Cherry Capital of Michigan and of this country.
Missing her buoyant and happy spirit, her delight in discoveries, expressions of creativity and caring heart for rescue animals and the disadvantaged in this world. She had so much energy and potential, it's still difficult and painful at times to accept that she is no longer here on God's Green Acres. Peace be with you, h..........
Love you Bunches and Missing you, Babe, always and forever, Mums
The Holiday of Hearts, A Very Special Valentine in 1973
Heather remains my Princess of Hearts in my heart of hearts and will forevermore. As Time marches on, it seems that our world changes daily in this era, especially with ever increasing new developments in technology, but love in our hearts remains and grows deeper with each passing day. Developing a deeper appreciation and sense of gratefulness for the years that we were able to enjoy Heather's presence on earth have helped to diminish the thrust of such a great loss. However, she will truly be 'Forever Missed' as long as we remain living in the flesh on this earth.
Heather was born on Valentine's Day in February of 1973 and it was so special to have given birth on a Holiday! And it was the 'second time in a row'..... for Sean was born on Thanksgiving Day several years earlier! [That February, family speculation was that my baby may be born on other family members' February birthdays, but that did not happen, for when she did arrive, her own special day was established on the Holiday of Hearts. What a beautiful Valentine surprise!]
Life itself is indeed a precious gift, not to be taken for granted and giving birth to one's own is an experience like none other. Our Creator and Mother Nature are amazing and Nick and I were wonderfully and bountifully blessed to have had a boy, then a girl and been known as Sean's/Heather's Dad/Mom. Gaining a new identity was one of the perks, a parental pleasure.
Love never fades, increasing and deepening profoundly when seasoned through the years with age and wisdom. Holding you in my heart forever, h, love always, Mums
Blossoms, Butterflies and Beliefs
Heather was truly her "own kind of beautiful" .. .
Remembering Heather lately, the three B's in the title above came to mind, along with Heather's passion for Nature and her Creator. She loved fresh flowers and often expressed her love for others through gifts of fresh bouquets or a single beautiful flower, usually a rose. She would frequently send gorgeous floral photos to me (and possibly to others as well, I don't know) through the text feature on her cell phone. There was usually no text message, only a powerful or exceptional floral photo. The last one that I received from her was a stunning floral photo that included a butterfly hovering above it. (In an internet search this a.m. for a similar photo, I discovered an awesome butterfly that h would have appreciated, a Ulysses butterfly, a large, beautiful swallowtail.) ---What a wonderful way of saying 'I love you' or 'I am thinking of you', by texting a photo that she knew would be enjoyed and appreciated! We miss so many of the things that she did, but realize now what a big impact they had upon our lives.
As a very young child, Heather was fascinated by and intrigued with caterpillars and butterflies and she and Sean would chase butterflies with nets at Grandma's house in the Summertime. As an adult, the process of Metamorphosis meant a lot to Heather and with it......deep thoughts, pondering change and transformation. Discussions about many subjects could become rather lengthy with her, but always remained very interesting to learn her perceptions, observations, deductions and opinions. It was delightful to hear her expressions about the newest knowledge she had just acquired or discovered.....or all about her latest faith venture. Heather had a personal relationship with her Creator and studied the Bible and Christianity in depth. Her Baptism as an adult was very meaningful to her and was a milestone in her faith journey as well as a spiritual awakening and transformation time. She was plucked for God's Garden in His Timing, not ours, for we certainly were not ready nor prepared for her passing. At this point, it still seems a bit surreal, to me at least, and a mixture of fact and fantasy. It takes time. There will always remain a void in my heart and soul that no one else will ever be able to replicate or fill.
Missing you h, love always and forever, Mums