My mother's obituary.
Dorothy Virginia (Grimm) Hegner of Morgantown, passed away Sunday, January 1, at Sundale following a long illness.
She was born in Morgantown on October 20, to Sigmund and Virginia (Reed) Grimm. Dorothy was a graduate of Morgantown High School. Highly intelligent and an exceptional student, she received two double promotions allowing her to graduate at the age of 16. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the National Choir A Cappella Honorary.
Dorothy married Eugene Carl Hegner in 1946. She graduated in from West Virginia University in the highly competitive Medical Technology program, and was board certified with the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Dorothy subsequently worked at WVU Health Sciences in both pathology and research. She later worked at WVU, Mon General and Vincent Pallotti Hospitals.
Dorothy's great passion in life was her love of music. She loved classical music in particular, with a special fondness for Mozart and Beethoven. Dorothy played the viola and piano, and sang throughout her life with various choirs.
It was her love of music which inspired her to fulfill a lifelong dream. Late in life, she returned to WVU and earned a degree from the School of Music.
Dorothy was a devout Roman Catholic. She was a member of St. Therese's Church and later St. John's.
She enjoyed reading, travel, spending time with her children and grandchildren and walking in the woods.
It would be an impossibility to sum up all she was, all she experienced and how much she meant to so many in a few short words. Dorothy was a woman of incomparable beauty both outside and in. She also possessed the ability to see beauty in the world and in people that others often overlooked. Always a free spirit who, when well, experienced life and all it had to offer to its fullest.
Above all, she was a mother. A mother who loved and cared for her children so very much. She will be forever missed and eternally loved by them.
Dorothy is survived her four children: Suzanne Lykins and husband Bob of Tampa, FL, Carl Hegner, Steve Hegner, Heidi Morris and husband Tom, all of Morgantown. She is also survived by four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Angela Lucci and Richard Gardner of Tampa, FL., Tommy and Gareth Morris of Morgantown and Sienna Lucci of Tampa. FL. Other survivors include two very special cousins, Tootsie and Billie Ann.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Eugene, in 2000 and an infant brother Robert, in 1929.
Visitation will be at Dering-Hensen Funeral home, Friday, January at 7:00 PM.. A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. John's University Parrish on Saturday, January 7, at 11:00 AM. Father Fred Bryne officiating. Pallbearers: Carl and Steve Hegner, Heidi, Tom and Tommy Morris, and Natalie Sal.
Internment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery. Immediately following interment, a reception will be held in Potter's Cellar of Newman Hall. Dering-Henson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WVU Foundation for the School of Music General Scholarship Fund (In Memory of Dorothy Hegner). 1 Waterfront Place PO Box 1650 26507-9939 Or Milan Puskar Health Right Clinic. PO Box 1519 Morgantown, WV. 26507-1519
The family would like to thank Morgantown Hospice and her very special caregivers at Sundale.

“Like the purest light in a darkened world
So much hope inside such a lovely girl
You should see her fly, it's almost magical
It makes you want to cry, she's so beautiful.
God bless the butterfly....”
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~In Loving Memory of Mina~
Rescued with love, Dec. 2003--Moved on to bigger and better cat things, Jan. 6, 2011.