Heide Mulcahy
On Sunday, November 24, 2024, at home and surrounded by her family, Heide Marie Mulcahy, of 400 Piney Ridge Rd, Covington left this life for her next one. She was 74 years old.
Heide was born in Hackensack NJ on June 16, 1950, to the late Hans and Anna (Schulz) Koehnke. After graduating from Saddlebrook High School in 1968, she enrolled at the International Institute for Computer Technology in Ramsey, NJ, to become a certified computer programmer. Her first job upon graduation was at Bell Labs in Whippany, NJ. It was - in her words - “the BEST job!”
She met her future husband, Leo, on a blind date in 1970 and they were married in Yonkers, NY, on May 25, 1974. They lived in Amherst and then Northampton, MA, before moving to Charleston, SC where daughter, Erin, was born. Two more children - Laura and Brian - followed after their move to Covington, VA in 1979.
To all who knew her, Heide was a source of endless light, love, and encouragement. She gave generously of herself to the causes close to her heart and to the community at large. Her deep commitment to the service of others was shown by the time spent at the Christmas Mother Shop, her church, and Central Elementary School. During her tenure as Girl Scout leader at Central, she became like a second Mom to so many of the girls of Troop 531, as its membership grew from 7 girls to many dozens. In whatever she was doing, she brought her skill and her willingness to listen. She had a way of making others feel like they were the only other person in the room with her, and that their words, thoughts and feelings mattered deeply to her. Because they did.
Heide was also an incredibly creative and artistic person. Her love of sewing was a mainstay in her life. Having learned the skill as a child, she went on to create many beautiful quilts and garments over the years - even her own wedding dress, and heirloom quilts for each of her children and grandchildren.
She leaves behind her a legacy of kindness, gratitude, and her extraordinary example of how to communicate her love to everyone whose lives she touched. She will be missed by so many more than words could ever say.
Heide is survived by her husband of 50 years, Leo; three children: Erin, and husband Jim, of Fairbanks, AK, Laura, and husband Tetteh, of Brooklyn, NY, and Brian, and wife Elizabeth, of Charlottesville, VA; and six grandchildren: Aurora Janoso, Anya and August Morton, and Ponyo, Fin, and Jake Mulcahy. She was predeceased by her parents, Hans and Anna (Schulz) Koehnke and her brother, Peter Koehnke.
A funeral Mass arranged by the family will be celebrated on Saturday, November 30 at 1pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with a celebration of life gathering taking place afterwards in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial tributes be made to the Covenant House, a nonprofit supporting homeless youth that was dear to Heide’s heart (www.covenanthouse.org / PO Box 758636 Topeka KS 66675-9986).
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Loving Funeral Home; www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com; (540) 962-2283.
