Charles Charlie Michael Van Hecke

Charles Michael “Charlie” Van Hecke, age 23, lost the physical battle of a defective heart, Tuesday February 11, 2014 but won the crown of eternal life instead for his loving, generous, and faith-filled heart. Charlie will forever be loved and missed by his family: parents David & Cecile (nee Gagne), brothers Josh & Max, his sister Meg, as well as his great extended family – grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, close friends, and his dearest special friend and faithful fiancé, Monica Davis. He had a special fondness for his Irish roots (comprising but 1/8 of his genes).

Charlie was born on October 26, 1990 with a congenital heart defect but you wouldn’t know it, thanks to the loving attention of his parents, Dr. David Freiberg, and many others. He grew up to become a loving, patient optimist with a roaring sense of humor and a love for the thespian arts, especially acting and set-building. He was a creative writer and story-teller with imagination and kindness at the heart of his stories and letters and loved a good debate. He graduated from Christendom College in 2013 and was employed by Population Research Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, until the time of his death. He also spent summers as part of the maintenance crew at Holy Hill, one of his most favorite places.

The Lord gave us Charlie; the Lord took him away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord. To quote a friend, “The taking is apparent and temporary, but the giving is real and eternal.” We trust Charlie will be an intercessor for us all before the throne of God.

A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 1711 S 9th Street in Milwaukee, WI, on Saturday, February 22, at 12:00 noon. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM. Burial will be Monday 2/24/14, at 10:00 AM at the St. Mary of the Hill Cemetery at Holy Hill Road (Hwy 167) and St. Augustine Rd (County Rd. C) in Hubertus, WI.

For those in Virginia and the surrounding area, Christendom College will celebrate a Vigil for the Deceased for alumnus Charles Van Hecke (Class of 2013) on Saturday, February 15 at 4:30 P.M. in Christ the King Chapel, with a reception following in the Aula Magna Mariae (the Chapel Crypt).

In lieu of flowers, donations would be most appreciated to any of the following charities: St. Anthony of Padua Parish and/or Food Pantry (address above), Population Research Institute (ww.pop.org) or Christendom College (www.christendom.edu).