Obituary for Dr. Daniel D. Heffernan Daniel Douglas Heffernan was born into eternal life on October 4, 2018. He was born on December 16, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan to John Joseph Heffernan and Flora (MacEachin) Heffernan. The 4th of 8 children, he grew up in Detroit and attended high school at Sacred Heart Seminary for two years before graduating from St. Gregory’s Parish High School in 1945.
He entered Wayne Medical School using the GI Bill and working part-time jobs, including some auto assembly work. In June of 1954 he married Beverly Light. After two children were born they moved to Midland, Michigan where Dan set up a family medical practice and with Bev, raised six children.
They attended St. Brigid parish while residents of Midland. Dr. Dan began helping sugar beet migrant workers in the Tri-City area, beginning in the 1960s. He attended to local migrant medical needs out of the back of his station wagon during this time, as well as maintained the busy medical practice.
In 1977 he and the family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to join an ecumenical Christian Community known as the Word of God where he connected with another medical group. Several years later, he began Hope Medical Clinic in Ypsilanti for the needs of the medically uninsured. The clinic has grown to include laundry facilities, a food pantry, a dental clinic, and social services.
In 1992 he and Bev went to Nicaragua to visit his son, Dan who was living there with his wife and children. He was moved by the inadequate medical facilities and began to send medicine and supplies regularly. Eventually, medical brigades were organized to travel from Michigan to remote areas of Nicaragua to provide for the health needs of the impoverished.
This outreach became Hope Clinic International in 1997. A permanent medical clinic, Tim’s Clinic, was established and is still running to this day in Esteli, Nicaragua. Dan’s Catholic faith was a key part of his life and was the of his inspiration to serve the poor.
His desire was to emulate the great St. Francis of Assisi and St. Mother Theresa in service to those in need. He was a member of the Knights of Malta, a world-wide organization dedicated to providing for the medical needs of the impoverished. Dan is pre-deceased by his parents, brothers Frank and Jim Heffernan, sisters Helen Rochon and Harriet Farris, and his wife, Beverly in 2017.
He is survived by his brothers Joseph, William, and Thomas Heffernan; his six children: Kathleen (Roger) Holtz of Ann Arbor, Jeanne (Douglas) Stout of Ypsilanti, MI, Daniel (Maria Cecilia) Heffernan, Jr. of Canton, MI, Mary Beth (Kevin) Wilson of Plymouth, MI, John (Nadine) Heffernan of Katy, TX, and Francis (Michele) Heffernan of Chandler, AZ. He leaves 20 grandchildren: Bridget, Margaret, and Christine Holtz, Timothy (Anne), Christopher, and Jennifer Stout, Cecilia Helena, Br. Daniel, Michael (Karolyn), Gabriel, and Marcela Heffernan, Timothy (Kristy), Joseph (Sarah), and Therese Kowaleski, and Peter Wilson, Nadine, John (Morgan), and David Heffernan, Catherine, and Carson Heffernan; and nine great-grandchildren: Joseph, Abigail, Andrew, and Marie Stout, Elaine and Evelyn Kowaleski, Teagan Beverly Kowaleski, Maria Elena Heffernan, and Elaina Mae Heffernan.
Visitation will take place on Friday, October 12 from 4:00 – 8:00 pm with a Rosary at 7:00 pm at Nie Family Funeral Home, at 3767 W. Liberty Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, October 13 at 12:00 noon preceded by Visitation at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 4000 Ave Maria Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hope Clinic or Hope Clinic International: www.
thehopeclinic.org or www. hopeclinicinternational.org To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. Daniel D. Heffernan please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Visitation , OCT 12.
04:00 PM – 08:00 PM Liberty Road Chapel 3767 W. Liberty Road Ann Arbor, MI, US, 48103 info@niefuneralhomes.com www. niefuneralhomes.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Daniel’s Visitation begins. Rosary , OCT 12.
07:00 PM Liberty Road Chapel 3767 W. Liberty Road Ann Arbor, MI, US, 48103 info@niefuneralhomes.com www. niefuneralhomes.com Order Flowers for the Rosary Guaranteed delivery before Daniel’s Rosary begins. Visitation , OCT 13.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Christ the King Catholic Church 4000 Ave Marie Drive Ann Arbor, MI, US, 48105 www. rc.net/lansing/ctk/ Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Daniel’s Visitation begins. Mass of Christian Burial , OCT 13.
12:00 PM Christ the King Catholic Church 4000 Ave Marie Drive Ann Arbor, MI, US, 48105 www. rc.net/lansing/ctk/ Order Flowers for the Mass of Christian Burial Guaranteed delivery before Daniel’s Mass of Christian Burial begins.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
