Jean Marie Hiesberger

Jean Marie Hiesberger, 75, passed away June 15, 2017. Visitation will be held 10:30-12:00 pm Monday, June 19th followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 pm at Visitation Parish, 5141 Main St., Kansas City, MO. Private interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to Cristo Rey Kansas City High School, 211 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111.Jean Marie was born September 18, 1941 in Kansas City, MO to Anton and Elizabeth Hiesberger, later moving to Jefferson City, MO. A graduate of St. Marys College (Leavenworth, KS) and St. Johns University (Collegeville, MN), she served as a Catholic educator through her work as an author, senior editor at Paulist Press, director of the Institute for Pastoral Life, and consultant. At St. Johns she joined the first cohort of lay students studying graduate level theology. Following her masters degree she lived in New York and New Jersey, serving as the first Director of Religious Education at St. John & Paul Parish in Larchmont and then for sixteen years as a senior editor at Paulist Press. There she also co-founded, with her husband, Robert Heyer, the vibrant Community for Bread and Justice, which endures to this day. During her years in Kansas City beginning in 1984, she worked as founding director of the Institute for Pastoral Life and then as an author and consultant. She served as general editor for Oxford University Press Catholic Study Bible: Personal Study Edition (1995). Her other books include 52 Saints to Pray With (2014), Fostering Leadership Skills in Ministry (2008), Take Ten: Daily Bible Reflections for Teens (2004), Dealing with Conflict and Anger (1996), FamilyTime (1993-1995) and the photo and meditation book, You Have Given Us Today (1973). In 2012 she received the Sister Mary Anthony Wagner award presented to alumnae of Saint Johns School of Theology and Seminary "who have prophetically and courageously embraced and used their gifts, and encouraged other women to develop their gifts for the good of the church and the world." She received the National Association of Lay Ministrys Gaudium et Spes Award for "fostering the baptismal call of the laity according to the vision of Vatican II" in 2004. She served on the Board of Regents at Conception Abbey Seminary College, on the editorial boards of New Catholic World and Catholic Key, on the Diocese of Kansas City/St. Josephs Priestly Life Committee, and the Catholic-Southern Baptist National Dialogue Team. Her work helping to launch the Cristo Rey School in Kansas City was also close to her heart. She and her family were active members of Visitation Parish, which has remained a faithfully supportive community to her in her years of declining health.Jean Marie is survived by her husband, Robert Heyer; daughter, Kristin Heyer and husband Mark Potter; grandsons, Owen and Luke Potter; siblings, Judy Vaillancourt and husband Tom, John Hiesberger and Michael Madrone; sister-in-law, Tem Hiesberger. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Tony Hiesberger. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.muehlebachchapel.com.


SERVICES Visitation
Monday, June 19, 2017 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Visitation Church 5141 Main Street Kansas City, Missouri 64113
Mass of Christian Burial
Monday, June 19, 2017 12:00 PM
Visitation Church 5141 Main Street Kansas City, Missouri 64113