Phyllis J. Heckemeyer

Phyllis Jean Heckemeyer of Northville died on Tuesday, March 5, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan of complications of metastatic breast cancer. She survived a previous battle with breast cancer in 1995-6. Phyllis was born on April 7, 1948 in Pigeon, Michigan to Hannah Jane Yackle and the late Orville Oswald Yackle. Phyllis was a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. degree in accounting. She also earned a Master's in Business Administration in 1982 from the University of Michigan. She received her certificate in public accounting in 1973 in the State of Michigan. She practiced as a certified public accountant in Northville and Livonia. Phyllis married her husband, Anthony J. Heckemeyer of Northville, who survives her, on June 17, 1972. Phyllis and Anthony have three daughters, Katrina (Tim) Smith, Amity (Nathan) Binkert and Sarah (Leonard) Bixby. Together the daughters blessed them with nine grandchildren; Jackson, Hughston, and Hannah Smith; Alexander, Bennett, and Liliana Binkert; and Halle, George, and Phillip Bixby, who gave Phyllis great entertainment and joy. She is also survived by her loving mother Hannah Jane Yackle; her sister Patricia (Robert) Kraay; her brother Douglas (Dianne) Yackle; many dear nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her father Orville Yackle. Phyllis and her husband, Anthony, have made Northville their home since 1976. Phyllis was very active in the Northville community. She held several offices with the Northville Lions Club. She was a life member of the Northville Mothers Club and a member of the Women's Club of Northville. Phyllis was an avid music lover who was also an accomplished pianist and organist. She sang with the Schoolcraft Community Singers. Phyllis was a strong woman of faith and an active member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Livonia where in keeping with to her musical spirit, she played bells in the church's bell quartet. She was also part of a local knitting group and knit many beautiful creations to be enjoyed for years to come. Visitation will be held Friday, March 8, 2013 from 5-8pm at Casterline Funeral Home, 122 West Dunlap, Northville. Funeral service will be held Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11am, with visitation beginning at 10am at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 30650 Six Mile, Livonia, MI 48152. Per her request, memorials should be made to Foundation Fighting Blindness , www.blindness.org in her name. Her generosity to the fight against blindness will continue as an enduring legacy. Even in death she continues to support the fight through her donation to the Michigan Eye Bank. She will be sorely missed.