Leaving a Legacy: John and Sue Heck

Note: It is with great sadness that we share that John passed away on May 8, 2025, shortly after this blog was completed. This story is now a testament to his life well lived! We are grateful for the connection the Heck family has with the Sisters of Providence and the difference they make in the lives of others. Please keep Sue and the rest of the family in your prayers.

Here is a link to John’s obituary.

John and Sue Heck’s legacy is connected with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. Their connection, rooted in family and faith, is a testament to their deep bond with the community.

John’s grandfather was a German immigrant who worked as a painter for the Sisters of Providence. His grandmother oversaw running the Sisters’ Woodland inn for many years.

Family in Community

Both John and Sue had aunts who were Sisters of Providence. John’s aunts were Sister Hermine Heck and Sister Celine Therese Heck. Sue’s aunt was Sister Patrice Borders. John and Sue follow in their family’s footsteps by helping others and living out the Gospel message.

Sue has made significant contributions to the Sisters of Providence, serving on the Woods Day Care/Pre-School Board and the Guerin Outreach Ministries Board and on the editorial board of HOPE Magazine.

John and Sue also support Providence Food Pantry. Their dedication and service have left a lasting impact on the ministries of the Sisters of Providence.

A ‘Lasting’ Relationship

John and Sue met at Saint Mary’s Village Church. John’s mother was the organist there and John served at Mass as a child. Sue and John are still involved there. One of the main reasons that John’s grandparents came to live at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods was because of that church and the Catholic school with it where their family could attend. Early on, that church was deeply connected with Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her Sisters of Providence. That relationship continues to this day.

The Hecks are connected to the Sisters of Providence in many ways, large and small. The irises that Sister Rita Ann Roethele painted that hung for many years at Providence Spirituality & Conference Center (PSCC) came from John’ father’s garden.

When the John and Sue’s family visited Sister Celine Therese in Lourdes, one of the nurses gave their son Otto, a toddler at the time, his very first cookie. When John was a young boy, his brother Bill recalls a time before 6:30 a.m. Mass (and breakfast provided by the Sisters), that John had already gone fishing and returned to go to Mass. Fishing was a lifelong passion that John continued with his three grown sons.

Sharing Prayer and Encouragement

Our connections with others allow us to share prayer and encouragement. The Sisters of Providence have done that for the Hecks throughout the years, and John and Sue are carrying that forward. When John and Sue were first married, Sue became very ill, and the entire Congregation prayed for her.

Like the Sisters of Providence, John and Sue help meet the needs of others when possible. Sue believes that, as a society, we need to be more engaged with the needs of others. Since God has been very generous to us, we should be generous to others. She notes that God tells us repeatedly in the Bible to give to others. According to Sue, “Everything we have is a gift from God, and we’re meant to share.”

Sue firmly believes that the journey of giving should start early in life. Establishing a pattern of giving often requires sacrifice, but it’s a practice that can shape one’s character and make a significant impact on others.

Planning Ahead

John and Sue not only give of their time, talents and prayers, but they also support the Sisters of Providence financially and have listed them as beneficiaries in their will. Both sets of their parents included organizations that were special to them in their estate plans.

John and Sue believe that planning ahead is practical and responsible. It can help alleviate added pressure, complication and burden for the family left behind during a time of grief. It also ensures that their support for the Sisters of Providence continues even after they are gone.

Both Sue and John were raised to share their blessings with others and support the church in various ways through ministry and outreach. Giving is simply part of who they are. Their desire is to be a part of God’s work by providing for others.

John and Sue’s legacy is encapsulated in a plaque that hangs in their home, which reads, “Just give until God stops giving to you!”