Mary Agnes Heil

MARY AGNES STANG HEIL, 93, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and community servant. She is survived by her nine children: sons, Martin (Pamela), Christopher (Nikki), Gregory (Amy), Brian (Bridgett), Eric (Susan), Matt (Michelle); daughters, Marybeth Knox (Tim), Anita Parisi (Adam), Becky Swerdloff (Steve); 31 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, two sisters (Marguerite and Barbara), and two brothers (Tom and Dave). She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Jerry; her parents, Henry and Edna Stang, two sisters (Sister Dorothy and Norma), and two brothers (John and Jim). Mary was born in Dayton, Ohio on February 2, 1929. Her responsibilities as a caregiver started as the oldest daughter of eight siblings and carried through her time as the lead nurse in the baby ward at Good Samaritan hospital, to her role as the mother of nine. It was appropriate that Mary first met her husband at a First Holy Communion celebration, playing cards with her aunt and a local priest. Mary headed to Germany with her parents and ten years later, met Jerry again, dated for four months and the rest was history. She embraced life in Little Rock after moving there in 1968 as the wife of an IBM'er. She and Jerry were charter members of Christ the King Church and were instrumental in convincing Bishop Fletcher to provide religious education for Catholic youth, who did not attend Catholic Schools in Arkansas. Mary was a multiple time recipient of the Volunteer in Public Schools (VIPS) award as she drove all over LR to lead PTA meetings. She also received the JC Penney Golden Rule award for her many years of community service in Little Rock. She was the president of the Ecumenical lecture series, was one of the first eucharistic ministers and was a founding member at Helping Hand of Little Rock, where she volunteered for 45 years. This passion for the giving of her time made her much more than a typical stay at home mom of nine. She was an inductee into the Arkansas Swimming Hall of Fame, known to most as "the bullpen lady", and opened her home to swimmers of all ages to stay for training or meets at the Racquet Club. Mary was a renaissance woman. She set an example showing what women are capable of via her membership in the league of woman's voters, Stocks and Stitches and lead pharmacist for multiple Christ the King Honduras mission trips. She moved to China in the mid 80's, at a time where Americans were a rarity and very little English was spoken. She commented that her trip as a 55-year-old to the Amazon Jungle via plane, busm and a 2-hour motorcycle ride to stay in a grass hut and visit her sister, Dorothy, was less taxing than raising nine kids. The family would like to thank Pearl Thomas for being her best friend and caregiver for the last 11 years of her life. A rosary service will be held Wednesday, June 29 at 6 p.m., with visitation to follow at Christ the King Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ the King at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 30, with The Most Reverend Francis I. Malone as Celebrant. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Parish Hall at Christ the King Church following. Arrangements are by Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth, 5800 West 12th, Little Rock, Ark., 501-661-9111. The family wishes to express their gratitude and appreciation to their friends for all their support and prayers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Helping Hand of Little Rock, 1601 Marshall Street, Little Rock, Ark., 72202, or Easter Seals Center for Training and Wellness, 14901 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72223. To sign the online guestbook, click "Add A Memory" at: www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.