Obituary of James Finbar Heffernan
James Finbar "Heff" Heffernan, passed away on December 17, 2020, at home in Plainfield, IL, surrounded by loved ones.
Surviving are his wife Carol, and children, Jim Heffernan, Bill (Julie) Heffernan, Maureen (Randy) Burch, Margie (Jim) Dunne, Michael (Brooke) Candra, and Thomas Candra, and the Mother of his children Joyce Beasley. Also, surviving are siblings Marie (Gene) Duchenne, Noreen (the late Robert) Hall, Patricia (the late Donald) Hansen, and Joseph (Seanne) Heffernan.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents John and Helen (Stemper) Heffernan, siblings Timothy (Eva) Heffernan, John (Alice) Heffernan, Gerald (Lorraine) Heffernan, Elizabeth (Claude) Allen and Thomas Heffernan and his son Scot (Teri) Candra.
Beloved Grandfather to Brendan, Elizabeth, Audrey, Nora, Claire, Amy, Logan, Emma, Nicole, Ian, Steven, Matt, and Zachary, and beloved uncle and cousin to many.
Born September 20, 1939, Jim grew up in a large family in Chicago, living first at 19th and Spaulding, then 58th and Francisco in the Gage Park neighborhood. The Elevated train tracks ran right next to the house on Spaulding, and he recollected falling asleep to the sound of the el rumbling past in the night. As one of ten children, Jim learned to fend for himself at a young age, though his sister Noreen was always known as the little Mom.
Jim played football and basketball at Gage Park High School, and formed lifelong friendships as part of the "Frisco" Social Club. Jim was a great storyteller, and one of his kid's favorite stories from his youth was about him and his buddies skinny-dipping at the neighborhood pool. Inevitably the police would come along and grab their clothes, leaving the guys to hide out in the bushes to avoid being caught naked by the police!
Jim started his family relatively young and had four kids by age 23. He was the fun Dad, wrestling with the kids, being the pitcher for running bases (along with Mike, Ed, or Tom Mantel), playing basketball in the alley, softball at larger family get-togethers. Who could forget the annual New Year’s Day football game against the family rival, the Feeneys! He loved to win, and the family mostly would arrive home, limping and bruised, but triumphant. The competition between Jim and his brother Joe was infamous – especially the bloody Labor Day (or Memorial Day?) alleyway basketball games and the 4ths of July softball games the Hall's hosted – with Uncle Bob mediating!
The family also enjoyed many fabulous camping trips traversing the U.S. from the Rocky Mountains Appalachian valleys in the 60s and 70s. Jim was a great Dad and made a point, no matter how much he was working, to always be there for his kid's birthdays, sports, and other important events. He taught his kids to drive and blamed them for the few grey hairs he gained in his 30s.
Jim was both a community activist and a Union leader. He led the charge against the Crosstown Expressway in the 70s – appearing on the Chicago Morning News Show to make an impassioned plea to stop the expressway – which was successful as we do not have an I-494 in Chicago! Civic responsibility was important to Jim: his kids remember being part of a Midway Airport protest at the tender ages of 8 to 11! The family hosted community activists from other parts of the U.S., often Jesuits, who would become close family friends. It was a rich learning environment at the house, filled with lively debates and heated discussions. Jim taught his children that standing up for what you believed in was important, and that action had more meaning than words alone.
He considered running for Alderman in Chicago but ultimately turned his persuasive and negotiating skills to supporting his co-workers as a Union representative at Commonwealth Edison. He worked as a meter reader and then a High Voltage Troubleshooter. He became President of IBEW Local 1366 and became an Officer of the System Council. He lobbied for worker's rights and the deregulation Bill in Springfield, which he found to be some of his most rewarding work. While working in Springfield, he was impressed by a young state Senator who listened to his concerns and championed worker's rights. That man went on to become 44th President of the United States!
Although Jim divorced in the late 70s, he made a point to stay very involved in his kid’s life's – whether it was to take his youngest daughter to a movie, rescue his stranded older daughter when her car broke down, or help his oldest son with his ready-made family.
Jim became part of a second family in 1980, gaining three additional sons and his wife, Carol. He again began traversing the United States, wanting to show his new boys the same things he had experienced with his first four children. Jim and Carol also traveled to many places around the globe, including a visit to daughter Maureen when she was stationed at a Naval Base in Italy. Jim and Carol had their 40th Anniversary in 2020.
Jim's retired from his troubleshooting job at ComEd at age 55 – but the retirement did not stick; he went on to work full time at the Union Office, retiring again after another 10 years or so. His third career began when his son Bill and his business partner, Gary Cohen invited him to join a new company they had started the previous year. This new position kept Jim busy well into his 70s!
Jim reluctantly fully retired after his first health crisis in 2017 and went on to struggle and triumph over additional health problems – until his stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis hit him hard late in 2019. Even with this formidable opponent, Jim continued to fight and stubbornly outlasted his doctor's prognosis – living twice as long as predicted. As a family, we were very thankful for his stubborn nature that gave us this additional time with our Dad, husband, and friend. His physical presence in our lives will be missed, but we will carry him in our hearts forever.
Jim was generous and compassionate, strong and proud, and had an impact on everyone he met. He maintained rich friendships, mentored young workers, and was always listening, helping and leading others. The values and lessons he imparted will stay with us forever and will be passed from generation to generation; Jim will live on, leaving his legacy behind through the generations of family that loved him.
A Celebration of Life for James F. Heffernan will be held Sunday, September 19, 2021, at Carriage Green Country Club, 8700 Carriage Green, Darien, IL 60561, from Noon to 3:00 p.m., with a Service of Remembrance at 1:00 p.m.
Fred C. Dames Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you may leave an online condolence or share a favorite story or memory.
