Shirley Frances Heck

Shirley Frances Heck of Racine, WI passed away peacefully surrounded with family and prayers on Monday, September 1st. She was born in Racine, WI on July 14, 1935, the 6th of 10 children of Frances and Clarence Heck. She graduated from St. Catherine’s High School and got her bachelor’s degree at Dominican College majoring in elementary education. She served as a Dominican nun for seventeen years. She left the convent to pursue a Doctorate of Education from University of Wisconsin, Madison. She then went on to become a professor at Ohio State University.

Shirley’s passion, dedication, and innovative approaches to teaching were recognized in academia and proved successful in the classroom. She also started the Discovery School in Mansfield, Ohio which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. Upon retirement, Shirley returned home to Racine, WI where she volunteered endless hours to co-found and develop the John XXXIII educational center. Many of the students enrolled in the center came from challenging backgrounds. Nevertheless, Shirley was determined to see them graduate from high school.

Shirley was also very devoted to her extended family and friends. She cherished spending time with her siblings and many nieces and nephews. She loved hosting family and friend celebrations and there was never a shortage of delicious food and good times. Although Shirley has many achievements in her name, she is perhaps best remembered for her caring heart and giving spirit that touched so many lives.

Surviving are her sisters, Mary K. Hansen and Donna J. Benedict; sisters-in-law, Cecelia Heck, Lorraine Heck, and Mary Heck; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Richard Heck, Marjorie (Donald) Johnson, Robert Heck, Lawrence (Nancy) Heck, Dolores Gibson Kunka, Clarence Heck, Eugene (Carol) Heck; brothers-in-law, Jack Gibson, Bernard Kunka, David Hansen, Albert Benedict

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, September 12, 2025, 11 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2200 Northwestern Ave, with Rev, Anthony Thomas officiating. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet Thursday at the funeral home 5-7 pm and on Friday at the church 10:30 am until time of Mass at 11 am.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff at St. Monica’s Memory Care Center for the wonderful care she received.

Memorials can be made to John 23rd Educational Center (john23educationcenter.org), St. Monica’s Senior Living Center (stmonicasseniorlivingcenter.com ), or Discovery School, Mansfield, Ohio (discovery-school.net)