HEATHER HEARN RATHNAU - CLASS OF 1976 - Daughter of our original Superintendant Claude Hearn

HEATHER HEARN RATHNAU - Class of 1976

Our family and friends had to say goodbye to my big sister, Heather, today. She passed into the next Life, peacefully, around 4 am this morning, closing her eyes on Earth and opening them in Heaven. With a broken heart, I want to especially send my love to Heather’s immediate family, my brother in law Ron, Alison and Eric, Mallory and James, and those 7 beautiful grandchildren: Charlie, Bobby, Kara, Adam, Olivia, Ezra and Elijah. And to numerous family and countless friends. Having lost my brother Brian in December, my college buddy Greg last month and now Heather… Frankly, it is soul crushing. Trying to find just the right word or phrase that will assuage our collective grief and pain, is not possible. The only thing that can keep those of us who knew and loved Heather moving onward is the knowledge that she is in a beautiful place now. A place devoid of the hurt and suffering that inevitably strike each of us during our ephemeral existence here. And knowing Heather would want us all to carry on with heads held high, not wallowing in grief. Heather faced her failing health with dignity, courage and grace. She never became bitter or angry, stoically enduring such severe pain. She never lost her faith.. As Christians, we believe something much better awaits, beyond our comprehension, past our sense of awe and wonder. I knew Heather longer than anyone now alive on this planet and what an honor to have been her kid brother. Heather was the human equivalent of a Clydesdale. She was a musical genius with perfect pitch who was always working, learning, practicing and performing her music. As a young girl, she studied and practiced the piano with an amazing determination. While I was out getting covered in mud and looking for snakes and frogs, she would be studying and practicing the piano. She would also work on her singing, developing an amazing voice and range. Of course, as any younger brother would do, I had to tease her not so infrequently. One plan was to leverage Heather’s attention to detail with respect to her piano. When she would take a break in the den, I would go into other living area, half of which was taken up by her piano, and play 7 notes of an octave. Imagine playing A B C D E F G, then stop before completing the final 8th note. This would drive Heather crazy. She would yell from the other room demanding I play the final note to finish the octave, which, as a pesky little brother, I would not. Heather would have to get up and come in from the other room and pound that final note to complete the octave. She could not do otherwise. This would create severe consternation from my big sister but smelled of victory to her annoying kid brother. Heather did so much for so many for so long I can’t even describe. She started her company, Theorytime, with just an idea while staring at a blank piece of paper, a pen/ pencil in hand. This was 28 years ago. What an amazing body of work she created. It’s funny ( odd) how the littlest of things become some of the big things in remembrance when you lose someone you love. Could be almost anything….an old drawing, a birthday card, a faded photograph, a small act of kindness long since forgotten. My younger sister Marla, who has a near photographic memory, reminded me of a story from many years ago that captures a glimpse into Heather’s soul. On August 15th, 1981, ( how Marla recalls the exact date floors me) Heather and Ron had just recently married and my future wife, Kathy, and I were all eating dinner at some unknown restaurant. When we finished, it was Heather who said we should go by the church of our youth and help “Humphrey” clean up after a wedding. “He needs our help”. Humphrey was an African American janitor at our church. He was already in his 60’s and had congestive heart failure( I didn’t know what that was back then) and would have to do all wedding set ups, clean ups and take downs by himself. I could write alot about Mr Humphrey. Loved that man…so full of wisdom and stories laughter, but that’s for another day. Heather had this keen sense, not common to many, about wanting to help out and reach out to others in need or distress. After the Saturday evening wedding , the sanctuary and fellowship hall was a pretty big mess… food, dishes, spills, trash, tables, chairs, decorations, rice everywhere, etc. I remember Humphrey crying with tears running down his face to think that a newlywed couple and their sidekicks would come help him sweep mop take down decorations tables chairs etc. on a Saturday evening on their own. He told Heather and Ron they should be on their honeymoon and Heather said to Humphrey “we want to spend part of it with you”. (Credit my kid sister Marla with remembering that little life vignette I would not have recalled until she mentioned it). This was vintage Heather, always thinking of someone else and wanting to step up and pitch in. To close, and borrow from Churchill, I don’t believe Heather’s final illness was the beginning of the end, but rather, the end of the beginning. The beginning of an eternal life in peaceful bliss. It is the great hope within us. We as a family will go on and live your legacy and example Heather. It was a tremendous honor to be your brother for all these years. It went by too fast. I want to amend my goodbye, and rather say: “see you later”… we will all be together again soon. For now, we know you are home… where home truly is, and was, and always will be. And when I join you there, if you happen to find another frog in your bed, just remember, it wasn’t me… I love you sis… SCOTT HEARN

FROM HEATHER'S FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/heatherhearn.rathnau

Y'all get your Kleenex ready. Here is a recording of Heather, my amazing sister, singing "Light of a Million Mornings," with the Tallowood Baptist Church Choir in 1987, when she was expecting Mallory. Thank you to my brother, Scott, for sharing the link. Heather is now singing in the Heavenly Choir.

https://drive.google.com/.../1aZUqwpGNi.../view...

 Services for our HEATHER are as follows:

9/5 Thursday @ 5-7 pm:

Visitation at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons

1010 Bering Dr, Houston 77057

9/6 Friday:

10:00 am - Funeral service at Tallowood Baptist Church in the sanctuary

555 Tallowood Rd, Houston 77024

*there will be a live stream*

11:00 am (approx) - Reception following service

12:15 pm (approx) - Procession to Houston National Cemetery

1:30 pm - Brief graveside service at Houston National Cemetery

If you are traveling from out of town and would like a discounted rate at a local hotel, please message Alison Knauer for the options given to us by the funeral home.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

FROM:

Marla Hearn Tews

Dear Friends, It has been a difficult time after losing my sister, Heather, yesterday on Sunday, August 25th and the unexpected loss of my brother, Brian, just 8 months ago. I will share more at another time, but for now I will let my brother, Scott, share with you about Heather. Thank you for your outpouring of love and prayers for all of our family. We love you all and ask God to bless each one of you. Below is Scott's post.

Our family and friends had to say goodbye to my big sister, Heather, today. She passed into the next Life, peacefully, around 4 am this morning, closing her eyes on Earth and opening them in Heaven. With a broken heart, I want to especially send my love to Heather’s immediate family, my brother-in-law Ron, Alison and Eric, Mallory and James, and those 7 beautiful grandchildren: Charlie, Bobby, Kara, Adam, Olivia, Ezra and Elijah, and to numerous family and countless friends. Having lost my brother Brian in December, my college buddy Greg last month and now Heather… Frankly, it is soul crushing. Trying to find just the right word or phrase that will assuage our collective grief and pain, is not possible. The only thing that can keep those of us who knew and loved Heather moving onward is the knowledge that she is in a beautiful place now. A place devoid of the hurt and suffering that inevitably strike each of us during our ephemeral existence here. And knowing Heather would want us all to carry on with heads held high, not wallowing in grief. Heather faced her failing health with dignity, courage and grace. She never became bitter or angry, stoically enduring such severe pain. She never lost her faith.. As Christians, we believe something much better awaits, beyond our comprehension, past our sense of awe and wonder.

I knew Heather longer than anyone now alive on this planet and what an honor to have been her kid brother. Heather was the human equivalent of a Clydesdale. She was a musical genius with perfect pitch who was always working, learning, practicing and performing her music. As a young girl, she studied and practiced the piano with an amazing determination. While I was out getting covered in mud and looking for snakes and frogs, she would be studying and practicing the piano. She would also work on her singing, developing an amazing voice and range. Of course, as any younger brother would do, I had to tease her not so infrequently. One plan was to leverage Heather’s attention to detail with respect to her piano. When she would take a break in the den, I would go into other living area, half of which was taken up by her piano, and play 7 notes of an octave. Imagine playing A B C D E F G, then stop before completing the final 8th note. This would drive Heather crazy. She would yell from the other room demanding I play the final note to finish the octave, which, as a pesky little brother, I would not. Heather would have to get up and come in from the other room and pound that final note to complete the octave. She could not do otherwise. This would create severe consternation from my big sister but smelled of victory to her annoying kid brother.

Heather did so much for so many for so long I can’t even describe. She started her company, Theory Time, with just an idea while staring at a blank piece of paper, a pen/ pencil in hand. This was 28 years ago. What an amazing body of work she created. It’s funny (odd) how the littlest of things become some of the big things in remembrance when you lose someone you love. Could be almost anything….an old drawing, a birthday card, a faded photograph, a small act of kindness long since forgotten. My younger sister Marla, who has a near photographic memory, reminded me of a story from many years ago that captures a glimpse into Heather’s soul. On August 15th, 1981, (how Marla recalls the exact date floors me) Heather and Ron had just recently married and my future wife, Kathy, and I were all eating dinner at some unknown restaurant. When we finished, it was Heather who said we should go by the church of our youth and help “Humphrey” clean up after a wedding. “He needs our help”. Humphrey was an African American janitor at our church. He was already in his 60’s and had congestive heart failure (I didn’t know what that was back then) and would have to do all wedding set ups, clean ups and take downs by himself. I could write a lot about Mr Humphrey. Loved that man…so full of wisdom and stories, laughter, but that’s for another day. Heather had this keen sense, not common to many, about wanting to help out and reach out to others in need or distress. After the Saturday evening wedding , the sanctuary and fellowship hall was a pretty big mess… food, dishes, spills, trash, tables, chairs, decorations, rice everywhere, etc. I remember Humphrey crying with tears running down his face to think that a newlywed couple and their sidekicks would come help him sweep mop take down decorations, tables, chairs, etc. on a Saturday evening on their own. He told Heather and Ron they should be on their honeymoon and Heather said to Humphrey, “we want to spend part of it with you.” (Credit my kid sister Marla with remembering that little life vignette I would not have recalled until she mentioned it). This was vintage Heather, always thinking of someone else and wanting to step up and pitch in.

To close, and borrow from Churchill, I don’t believe Heather’s final illness was the beginning of the end, but rather, the end of the beginning. The beginning of an eternal life in peaceful bliss. It is the great hope within us. We as a family will go on and live your legacy and example, Heather. It was a tremendous honor to be your brother for all these years. It went by too fast. I want to amend my goodbye, and rather say: “see you later”… we will all be together again soon. For now, we know you are home… where home truly is, and was, and always will be. And when I join you there, if you happen to find another frog in your bed, just remember, it wasn’t me… I love you sis… Heather Hearn Rathnau

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