Norfolk —Renee Heyman of Norfolk, Va., a beloved wife, mom, and grandmother died at her home on June 28, 2016.
She was born on January 1, 1935 in Lithuania to the late Sima and Bernard Ginsburg. She grew up in New York City and worked for many years at the Breast Cancer Center at Sentara Leigh Breast Center Clinic.
She was the loving wife of Charles Heyman for 59 years and beloved mother of Richard Heyman and his wife Anne of Del Mar, Calif., Beverlie Marks and her husband Morris of Needham, Mass. and Joanne Heyman and her husband Joe Greene of Riverdale, N.Y. She leaves cherished grandchildren: Scott and Julia Heyman, Andrew, Ilana and Alex Marks, Sydney and Morgan Greene and Rashid Perkins.
Despite the distance from her children and grandchildren or her schedule, she attended all of their milestones and was actively involved in their lives. She treasured the beauty of each grandchild and built a very special bond with each and every one of them. She also leaves a special niece, Laura Heyman and many, many dear friends including Johnnie and Kay Allen, her lifelong friends in Norfolk, the Mahjong Ladies, her Breast Cancer Support Group, The Pink Tea Ladies and friends from Temple Emanuel.
As a 40-year cancer survivor, she worked tirelessly as an advocate for cancer patients. This included working at the Sentara Leigh Breast Cancer clinic, leading numerous breast cancer support groups and organizing multiple fund raisers including Relay for Life, Stomping out Breast Cancer and The Pink Tea Initiative (which she started), an organization that supported a Virginia Beach Health Clinic which served the underserved community. In addition, she ran many other programs affiliated with the American Cancer Society.
Her other passion was her family and her large group of friends. She provided love and guidance to her family and many countless other individuals and friends that she embraced and treated as family. She loved spending her time traveling to visit her children, grandchildren and friends. She also loved reading, knitting and as a passionate football fan actively cheered on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Donations to The Beach Health Clinic, 3396 Holland Road #102, Virginia Beach, VA 23452; an organization very dear to Renee’s heart. Renee worked many years helping to raise money to help woman get access to mammograms and other health related tests.
A celebration of her life will take place in the future. Details for the memorial will be provided by Temple Emanuel.