HILLSBOROUGH, NH:  Marie A. Hefferman passed on June 13, 2021.  

Marie Heffernan (Coutu) was the daughter of William and Rose (Viens) Coutu, born in Turner’s Falls, MA in 1932.  She attended the local schools and earned both Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees at Springfield College.  She then went on to her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development at Wheelock College in MA. Her career in education spanned 53 years, including teaching positions in the Brookline, MA school system and at the Brookline Head Start Program. She operated one of the first in-home Day Care Centers from 1971 to 1992. I n addition, she taught at the Childhood Development Center in Hillsborough, NH. 

She had a lifelong interest in music, singing in several choruses, including the Sweet Adelines.  She also enjoyed playing the piano for family and friends. 

She spent many years involved in Scouting, leading both Cub and Boy Scouts. She also had a great interest in archeology. 

She was an enthusiastic member of the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron of the Bay State Chapter in Brighton, MA. Upon relocating to NH, she joined the Portia-Henocon Asteria Chapter.  She was the Past President of the Auxiliary to Clan Lindsay, and a member or the Bon Accord Lodge #39 of the Daughters of Scotia. 

She was predeceased by two children, Christopher and Sara, and her siblings, Theresa Pelletier, Robert Coutu, John Coutu, William Coutu, Jr., Doris Barnes, Elizabeth DeLarosa and her son-in-law, Edward Jimenez. 

She will be greatly missed by her children, James Sky of Hyannis, MA, M. Kate Kelly and husband Samuel Kelly of Hillsborough, NH, Julia Jimenez of Peterborough, NH, Andrew Heffernan of Hyannis, MA and Daniel Heffernan of Bennington, NH and her grandchildren Maggie Johnson of Brighton, MA, Sara Chretien and husband Scott Chretien of Boscawen, NH, Jonathan Jimenez and wife Jamie Jimenez of Peterborough, NH, Ian Sky of Pittsburg PA, Antony Kelly of Keene, NH, Erin DiStolfo and husband Marc DiStolfo of Attleboro, MA, Christopher Heffernan of Bennington, NH, Benjamin Heffernan of Bennington, NH, William Heffernan of Wareham, MA, Ashley Welsh of Wareham, MA, Jessie Edwards of Knoxville, TN, Cameron Edwards of Winthrop, MA, and many great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Calling hours will be held Friday, June 18^th from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm at the Holt-Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 32 School St Hillsboro, NH. 

A Mass will be held Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 11 am in St. Mary’s Church, Hillsborough, NH. 

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to:  Peterborough Fire and Rescue Department, 16 Summer St. Peterborough NH 03458,  or St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 North Main St, Chamberlain, SD 57325, or any child services charity