Jeane Heffernan Sykora of Marietta, Georgia, died peacefully at home on Saturday, July 10, 2021, after a long battle with lymphoma. The youngest of four children, she was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Dr. William Phelan Heffernan and Margaret Meagher Heffernan. She attended Saint Clement School in Medford, Massachusetts, and Bentley College of Accounting in Boston. She began her career at the Prudential in Boston, where she met her future husband. Together they moved to New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, and Georgia (twice!), where Jeane was always quick to get involved in the community and with her children’s schools and activities.
She was known for her kindness, compassion, sense of humor, and hilarious stories told in her unforgettable Boston accent. Before she became ill, she loved working at Shallowford Animal Hospital, and found comfort there after the sudden death of her youngest son. For many years prior, she was a caregiver for the elderly, and had a special calling working with and advocating for Alzheimer’s and stroke patients. She was generous and welcoming, and her home was always open to friends and family. She is loved by all and will be missed terribly.
She had a strong faith and had been a seasoned volunteer with her church as a ChrisTeen mentor, Mercy Guild member, administrative volunteer, and anniversary planning committee member. While her children were in school, she was a homemaker and frequent volunteer with her neighborhood homeowners’ associations, PTA, and her children’s sports teams.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Jerry Sykora; her children, Lynne Sykora Unglo (Sam) of Roswell, Georgia; Brian Michael Sykora (Sarah) of Needham, Massachusetts; and Julie Sykora Cummings (Brad) of Marietta, Georgia; her three siblings, Paul Heffernan of Wakefield, Massachusetts; Elizabeth Beisheim of Norton, Massachusetts; and Mary Cashins of Reading, Massachusetts; many extended family members and friends; and her seven grandchildren: Luke and Caitlin Unglo of Roswell, Georgia; Alexandra and Nate Sykora of Needham, Massachusetts; and Chloe, Colin and Charlotte Cummings of Marietta, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Mark Richard Sykora.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, at Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Road; Roswell, GA 30076. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. at the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, 1815 Blackwell Rd., Marietta, GA 30066, followed by interment at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Highway, NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.
Live streaming is available for those who are unable to attend the Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Jeane Sykora at:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://transfiguration.com/media/live-mass-stream/__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!ZcqPkBYd3cjcUaLR7-DQPiUucL3OqjbKMAmI-TiumrQCjuUhB8rvT9BQuVsY0BssjU7KyWquwQ$
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org) in memory of Jeane Sykora.
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