Marion Joyce Heunisch

Marion Heunisch was born November 1928 in Sanford, Manitoba, Canada to Cornelius and Daisy Parker. She died peacefully on July 19, 2023 at The Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights. Marion is survived by her three children: Brent (wife Carol) Heunisch, Robert Heunisch, and Debby (husband Kevin) Doddrell; her granddaughters: NaHshonee, Destiney, Brittany, Danielle, Amy, and Sara. She is preceded in death by her husband Donald Heunisch of Minnesota; her parents and sisters, Arlene Tillotson and Roberta Lesser. Funeral and interment services shall be private.

She had a busy, full life:• Came to USA for her residency as a hospital dietician in Minnesota, then…• Became a full-time mother of 3 moving around the country due to husband’s job transfers,• Back-to-work when kids were a tad older as a junior high substitute teacher,• Special education teacher at Samuel Kirk School in Palatine after being a teacher’s aide,• Developed the first curriculum for mentally challenged teenagers/young adults to take care of themselves – cooking, doing laundry, how to catch a bus / count money, and how to hold a paying job. She even helped find them placement in local businesses to earn a wage.• Volunteered at many places including knitting baby caps for newborns at NW Community Hospital, babysitting grandkids often, and visiting the elderly,• She was a world traveler and avid reader,• She was a busy person, but ALWAYS had time for her friends and family.

As a prior Board Member of The Lutheran Home, memorial contributions may be given to The Lutheran Home, 800 W. Oakton, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.