Joanne M. (Heffernan) Wessling

Joanne M. (Heffernan) Wessling of Weymouth, formerly of Dorchester, died peacefully on Thursday, April 4, 2024  at the Pope Nursing Home in Weymouth. She was 78.

Dear daughter of the late Thomas Carroll  Heffernan and Mary (Sullivan) Heffernan of Boston. Devoted mother of the late Elisabeth Wessling. Beloved sister of Kathleen Heffernan and her husband Richard Ward of West Dennis, Carol Cunningham of Quincy and the late Thomas Carroll  Heffernan Jr. and Marybeth Heffernan. She leaves behind loving nieces Kristen Cunningham of Quincy, Kendra Cunningham of New York City and Moya Connelly of New York City and  nephew Peter Connelly and his wife Ann (Cronin) Connelly of Winchester.

Joanne grew up in Boston and spent summers on Cape Cod. She graduated from St. Gregory High School in Dorchester and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stonehill College in Easton.

Diagnosed in her teens with bipolar disorder, Joanne struggled, but managed to hold a job, live on her own and especially to be an affirming, loving presence in her daughter Elisabeth‘s life. She spent her last ten years at Pope Nursing Home in Weymouth. Although Joanne at times had difficulty accepting her need for nursing care, Pope proved to be a warm, accepting environment, where she was loved and warmly cared for by the certified nursing assistants and nursing staff.

Joanne was smart, kind, compassionate, big hearted, plucky, insightful, funny and generous. She balanced her kind hearted soul with a feisty attitude that just proved her will for self advocacy.  Friends, family and Pope staff remember wide ranging discussions with Joanne on god, politics, families, life in general. She remembered everyone’s birthdays, the names of their children and knew and greeted everyone who visited on her floor.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit with Joanne’s family at 9 AM on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at St. Gregory Church, 2215, Dorchester Ave., Dorchester. Her Memorial Funeral Mass will follow at 10 AM.

Joanne will be interred privately in Holy Trinity Columbarium, West Harwich, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Joanne’s name to the Massachusetts Alliance on Mental Illness by clicking here, or to Interfaith Social Services by clicking here.