Elizabeth Heegaard

Josie – Elizabeth Joan Bessesen Heegaard of Alexandria and Minneapolis

Josie never met a stranger...never missed an opportunity to say something good...and never entered a room without filling it with love and laughter. Josie died peacefully Tuesday, March 29th in the loving arms of her husband, surrounded by her children.

Some may think that Josie led an ordinary life married to a small town Minnesota doctor, but it was far from that. For over 66 years these two lovers lived and worked as a team quietly serving their community. Besides teaching children to swim and working with disabled children she raised her own brood of children and grandchildren whom she called her "Darling Ducklings". She opened her arms and heart to the world at large welcoming all into her home, instinctually knowing those who needed her special dose of extra "Josie/Mom" love. She embraced those from all cultures, faiths, and orientations without judgment. In India, Thailand, and Cambodia she volunteered on medical missions, tenderly working with the poorest of the poor and the most rejected of all, those inflicted with the most dreaded of 3rd world diseases, leprosy. She opened her heart and was fearlessly willing to touch the untouchable....

If you ever met Josie, you would likely leave believing in miracles. She seemed to see them everywhere and effortlessly inspired others to see the miracle of their own God-given potential. She saw wonder, joy and potential in every living being she met.

Though her physical eyes had grown dim with blindness, and her world had gone silent with deafness, her awareness of the marvels of life were amplified and made sharper as she gracefully aged. Never did she complain that time had robbed her of these two vital senses. She loved, laughed and smiled all the way to her last breath.

She melded her heart with her husband Bill of 66 years as they were an inseparable single being. Their life was rich - brimming with family, friends, purpose and commitment. Who could ask for more!

If everyone in the world were more like Josie, there would be no racial strife, no poverty, and no one starving on our planet...there truly would be peace on earth. Her heart was pure...her faith was strong, and her essence will live on eternally through all who knew her.

Josie died on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at her home at the age of 88. She is survived by her husband, William Goddard Heegaard, her daughter Jenny (Christopher), son Roger (Cheryl), son Jeff (Lucy) and son Eric (Carreen) and 10 wonderful grandchildren (Nathan, Richard, William, Jennifer, Alice, Joseph, Chad, Elena, Jason and Ian) who she adored, and her brother Alfred Bessesen of Orange, Florida.

Please join her family for a celebration of life ceremony at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Alexandria MN on July 8 at 3:00 followed by a joyous festival. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Memorials may be directed to: The Alexandria Schools Educational Foundation, The Douglas County Hospice, Alexandria Uncompensated Care, Emmanuel Episcopal Food Shelf and Knute Nelson Hospice.