Obituaries

John B. Heroux

John B. Heroux, a long time resident of Manheim Township and for the past 7 years a resident of St. Anne’s Retirement Community died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at the age of 94. John was the widower of Elizabeth (Fitzgibbons) Heroux, his wife of 66 years, who died Feb. 2, 2004.

Born in Oconto, WI," Bernard", as he was known by his family, was the fourth of nine children of the late Joseph and Mary (Tucker) Heroux. He is predeceased by his brothers Paul, Joseph, Vincent, Francis, and Robert Heroux, and by two sisters, Mary Belleau and Helen Murphy

A graduate of Oconto H.S., John went on to earn a BA degree in Business Administration from Carroll College, Waukeshau, WI, in 1936. He then began a 43 year career with the Heil Co. of Milwaukee, WI, retiring in 1979. John worked as an accountant and purchasing agent at Heil in Hillside NJ, in their National Account Sales Office in New York City, and moved to Lancaster in 1956 to become the manager of the Heil Co. plant there.

He married his college sweetheart Elizabeth Fitzgibbons, in New Jersey in 1937 and together raised six children who all survive him: John, widower of Elizabeth Selitto, Bedford NH, Jeanne, wife of Henry Daecher, Kutztown,PA; James Ray, husband of Joey Miller, McVeytown, PA, Terry, wife of Alvis Ziedonis, Mountain Top, Pa, Barbara, wife of William Neely, San Francisco, and Gregory, husband of Joanne Yost, Suwanee, GA

John was a member of St. Anne’s Church, Lancaster where he served on many committees and was chairman of the church council for two years. He was also a member of the choir, serving as choir director for 6 years, and was a Eucharistic Minister. John was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Serra Club.

He also was a Manheim Twp. commissioner from 1980-1987, serving as the commissioner for parks and recreation, and as its president for 2 years He also served on the Board of Trustees at Millersville State College and was instrumental is starting the business program there. John was also a member of the Lancaster Area Manufacturer’s Assoc., and the PA Motor Truck Assoc.

In addition to his children John is survived by his sister Dorothy Merline, Green Bay WI, and 13 grandchildren: Mary Beth O’Malley, Jay Heroux, Jeffrey Daecher, Andrew Daecher.,Michael Daecher, Jennifer Montero, Kristen Buchanan, Nicole Gregory, Renee Eicher, Adam Ziedonis, Travis Ziedonis, Lauren Heroux and David Heroux and 19 great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Saint Anne’s Catholic Church, 929 North Duke Street Lancaster, on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 11:00AM with Rev. Norman C. Hohenwarter as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s New Catholic Cemetery. Family will receive friends on Monday, April 13, 2009, at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz from 7-9PM. A Christian Prayer Service will take place at 8:30PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in John’s memory to Saint Anne’s Retirement Community, 3952 Columbia Avenue Columbia, PA 17512 or to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604. To send an online condolence please visit: snyderfuneralhome.com

Leave a condolence on this Memorial Page


Be sure to include your name

Please note that your condolence will not appear on this page until it is reviewed. Condolences usually appear within 24 hours of being submitted.

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.
All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in heaven at last.
Did you wonder how I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh, but Jesus’ love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.
And he came himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?
Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s will.
There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now while life remains,
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.
When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Jolinda and I wish to express our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all of his friends. I will always remember Uncle Bernard stopping to visit everytime he was in Milwaukee. I know my dad Francis always looked forward to seeing him. I also remeber a time when we visited Lancaster. Both Uncle Bernard and Aunt Fizzy were very gracious. I think the visit to the Heil facility was what got me interested in engineering. Now I realize who was responsible for all those allnighters. Thank you for all the wonderful memories.
Joe Heroux – son of Francis and Audrey.

just wanted to send my thoughts and prayers for the whole family. you are always in them. 
love
SSG Andrew J Murphy
US Army
QWEST Iraq

Mr. Heroux,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.  May God grant you and your family peace and strength as you go through this difficult time.   Leann Smith, Forbes Road Jr-Sr High School

Dear Family
It is our prayer that you find comfort and assurance of Bernard’s place in the Kingdom.  As we celebrated the Resurrection yesterday, we are reminded that if we are in Him, we will live with Him in eternity.
Blessing and Peace to your family,
Steve, Julie, Joel and James Heroux
Sturgeon Bay, WI

Dear PA cousins,
We extend our sympathies in your loss of Uncle Bernard.  I didn’t know your parents that well but always enjoyed talking & being with with them when they visited Wisconsin.  What wonderful people they were.  Outstanding character and love of family and God. I’m sure the Heroux clan is having a Heavenly card party and Bernard is in charge of getting the drinks and treats.  Give Aunt Dorothy Merline an extra hug when you see her.
Our condolences,
Lynn (Belleau)and Dennis Jisa

You are all in our thoughts and prayers.  We so wish we were ther with you.  Doug had surgery and that changed our plans to come. 
We have such fond memories of Bernard and Fizzy’s trips to Wisconsin…it was always a party.  We had great times at their home also.  Bernard was a super "tour guide". 
Our whole family sends their sincerest condolences.  Please keep in touch.
Doug and Lou Heroux
2014 Memorial Drive Apt 101
Green Bay, WI  54303
920-366-3358

To the children, and grandchildren of Mr. Heroux:
  I work at St. Anne Church Rectory, ever since I was hired by dear friend, John and began employment in the church office as of Feb. 1, 1970.  John was more than a pillar of our parish community.  I owe so much to him for allowing me to work at St. Anne Church under the pastorship of Msgr. Francis Mongelluzzi. Along with his wife Elizabeth, they were a very much respected couple in the parish.
  Always a smile on John, and a kind word to you.  A positive thinker and person in life, involved in many aspects of the parish and community life.
Know he was much respected by the priests of Lanc. County, being involved in the Serra Club, honoring priests.
Back in the late 60’s I joined the choir at St. Anne’s under the direction of John Heroux. Never lost his patience with any of us, and kept his gentleness
always.
A  long life he lived, a true family man, and honoring God always.
For yrs. since John resided at St. Anne Home in Columbia, I sent him at his request the Parish Bulletin from the church office.
There is and will be loss to his large loved family.  We too, as parishioners of St. Anne Church who were involved in various aspects with John, will miss him.
May you, the sons, daughters, beloved grandchildren and great grandkids and his sister, know that I send you all my personal sympathy in the loss of a great man, your father and grandfather and our friend.
May John Rest in Peace, as know he is and did on Easter Morn with Jesus on that wonderful Holy Easter Day.  He now lives in heaven with your mother and our friend Elizabeth.  Blessings to all of you. Sincerely, Rita R. Boyer, friend and still employed at SAC at age and proud 80 yrs. old

I wish to extend my deepest sympathy and prayers to Mr. Heroux.  I was his secretary while I worked at The Heil Co. between 1973 through 1979.  He and his wife were warm and welcoming anytime I would run into them after we both left The Heil Co. 

I had no idea that he was so involved in the Church, and never knew that he was in the choir!  I’ve visited St. Anne’s Retirement home many times and didn’t know that he was there. 

I believe the only one of his children I met was Greg while he worked at The Heil Co. during the summer(s).

I have many fond memories of your parents and of my time working with your father.

Sincerely,
Janice "Jan" Abbott

We would like to offer our condolences to the entire Heroux family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Love,
Amable and Shelley Brito

Jim, My sincerest sympathy goes out to you and your family.
I’ll always remember you called me the "maverick".   
Betty Malot

I’m the grand-daughter of Vincent Heroux…please except my deepest sympathy at the passing of a very special man…you are in my thoughts & prayers.
Tina Pecor
Oconto, WI

With Sincere Sympathy
A loving thought, a quiet prayer that in this shadowed hour Our Lord will give you comfort and His sustaining power.
He heals the broken in heart.
Psalm 147:3
Gaby, Dorie, Helga and the whole office

My deepest sympathy to all of you.  I’ll always remember the summers that we spent at Great Grandma & Grandpa’s in Oconto.  We always looked forward to when Bernard and Fizzy would come and spend time at home.  Uncle Bernard used to give us quarters to walk to get ice cream, and always loved spending time with us even if we were interrupting a good card game. My best to you all.  Hope to see some of you at the Cousin’s Reunion this summer.
Cindy (Heroux)Kmecheck
Paul & Mary’s Grandaughter

As I look at the picture of my great uncle Bernard, I see the features of all the loved ones I cherished when I visited my grandparents and reunited with our clan in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.  All those Heroux’s and Belleau’s!  I frequently heard mention of my grandma Mary’s brother, Bernard, and wife Fizzy.  Bernard and Fizzy – they were always spoken about as one would of close friends who live out of state. 
My mother, Mary Jeanne Belleau-Schwenk, and I were finally able to visit them in Lancaster back in 1985.  Meeting them was a highlight of our adventure traveling to the East Coast.
A couple of years later, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and met my husband, Dave.  We soon eloped to the San Francisco city hall.  We began to attend Lamplighter Music Theatre productions and I quickly noticed the talents of William Neely and Barbara Heroux.  Wow! I was related!  Another topic of discussion was born with Uncle Bernard and Aunt Fizzy.
I think the world of those two people and the world was greatly enriched by them.  My condolences to all their many friends and family.  Love and Best Wishes,  Kathryn Schwenk-Axtell, Sunnyvale, California

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.  May God grant you peace to sustain you and hold you in the palm of His hand.
Deb King (Forbes Road High School)

Jim,
Please accept my condolences and sympathy for the passing of your father.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Gay Fleck

Grandpa,
You will be missed.  I will always remember family cookouts at the Roosevelt Blvd house and walking in the cornfields behind that house and having watermelon spitting seed contests and basketball.  After you moved to Olde Hickory and then Valleybrook I will remember coming to dinner there on Sunday nights and having great conversations with you and Nana when I lived in Lancaster.  I will always remember your generosity and keen mind and opinions (even though I didn’t always agree) and how proud your were to have worked for Heil and have been of service to your community.  I will also always remember our trip to WI for the family reunion and getting to see the area and meet the people in your family that shaped your formative years.  You had a long life and accomplished much but now you are at peace and hopefully reuniting with Nana who I know you loved so much.  God bless you, Grandpa!
Your granddaughter,
Jenny

My condolences to all.  I remember Bernard and Fizzy coming back to Wisconsin for my grandparents 50th.  Bernard was so full of stories of growing up in Oconto. I always looked forward to his visits.
Scott Heroux
Grandson of Paul & Mary Heroux

I am a grandson of Bernard’s sister Mary. I hear from my aunts that Bernard was very kind to my mother and father Don and Dawn Belleau. I don’t think I ever met Bernard but I am moved by their remembrance and I offer my condolences to his family. His generosity and kindness has not been forgotten.
Christopher Belleau
Providence, RI

Send Flowers Online

Offering Lancaster, PA funeral services for over 75 years.

Our six funeral homes in Lancaster County makes it easy and convenient to make arrangements and host services close to home.

  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Downtown Lancaster
  • 414 East King St.
  • 717-393-9661
  • Charles F. (Chip) Snyder, Jr. Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Lititz Pike
  • 3110 Lititz Pike
  • 717-560-5100
  • Charles F. (Chad) Snyder, III Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Millersville
  • 441 North George St.
  • 717-872-5041
  • Mark D. Burkholder Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Spacht-Snyder Family Funeral Home Lititz, PA
  • 127 South Broad St.
  • 717-626-2317
  • Jacqueline Adamson Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Bachman-Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory Strasburg, PA
  • 7 South Decatur Street
  • 717-687-7644
  • Norman T. Mable Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info
  • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home Willow Street, PA
  • 2421 Willow Street Pike
  • 717-464-4600
  • Kelly Gramola Townsend Funeral Director / Supervisor
  • more info