Heidi Gerrish Celebration of Life
A Celebration of Life for Heidi Gerrish will be held at Mountain View Lutheran (11002 S 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85044) on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 10:30 am. There will be a reception immediately after. View the livestream here. A recording will be available for viewing following the service as well.
All of our updates on Heidi and her family can be viewed at gcsynod.org/news/tag/Gerrish+family. View a page on Chapel of the Chimes for an obituary, service info, and a tribute wall. A full obituary can be found in this post as well.
In lieu of flowers, our family asks that donations may be made to Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest in Heidi's honor (https://www.lss-sw.org/donate, 2502 E University Dr #125, Phoenix, AZ 85034).
Heidi Marie Gerrish was 30 years old, born November 9th, 1991 in Mesa, Arizona. She grew up together with her siblings in the Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee before attending and graduating from the University of Arizona with degrees in Public Health and Spanish Linguistics. During her education she was a student leader within the UofA's Lutheran Campus Ministry and was part of service projects that traveled to Haiti, Mexico, Israel, and Honduras.
After college she joined the Young Adults in Global Mission outreach of the Lutheran church and spent a year abroad in Uruguay in service. Back in Tucson, AZ, her home she loved, she went to work at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest with roles in fundraising, volunteer recruitment and organization, and communications coordination supporting ministries to vulnerable populations including children, seniors, and refugees. In addition, she volunteered her time and leadership on the boards of the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association, UofA Lutheran Campus Ministries, Women of the ELCA, the Campus Christian Center, and was a member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Tucson where she livestreamed their services throughout the pandemic.
Heidi gave freely to others, loved, and experienced a lot in her life that ended much too soon. She was married, divorced, and fell in love again with exciting plans for the future. She loved her dogs, skating and competing in roller derby, singing karaoke, playing musical instruments, camping with her friends, bicycling, hiking, painting, crafting, making buttons, smiling, laughing, and dancing with her personality that would light up any day she was a part of.
She is survived by her parents Cindy and Paul Gerrish, sister Julie, brother Stephen, sister in law Katherine, and partner Justin Rheault with whom she was planning a wedding. We, along with so many other family members and friends all miss her so much, will never forget her, and put our hope in being reunited with her again someday.
“Eternal God, your love is stronger than death, and your passion more fierce than the grave. We rejoice in the lives of those whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace. Keep us in joyful communion with them until we join the saints of every people and nation gathered before your throne in your ceaseless praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah