Lawrence — Heather Lynn (Baker) Sapienza, 40, of Lawrence and formerly of East Hartford, Conn, beloved wife of Tom B. Sapienza, Jr., passed away on Thursday, (January 3, 2013) after a long battle with cancer.
Born in Hartford, Conn. on June 8, 1972, she was raised in East Hartford, Conn. and was a graduate of East Hartford High School, Class of 1990. She was an active in many school activities and was a part of the badminton team for four years and helped the team to win four consecutive state championship titles. After graduating from high school, Heather started working in the pharmaceutical industry at Kaiser Permanente and then at Bird’s Hill Pharmacy in Needham, where she served as compounding pharmacy technician for the last 18 years. Every summer, Heather spent time with her parents at their cottages on Hog Island in Rhode Island. She loved spending time there and often referred to it as her “happy place” where she could completely unwind. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, gardening around her home and at her parent’s cottages, and traveling with her husband. Heather loved children and children loved her. She always looked forward to spending time with her nieces and nephews and all of her family. Most of all, Heather will be remembered as a colorful individual both in appearance and personality. Her multicolored wigs, bold dress, and outgoing personality inspired many of the patients around her during her treatments at Beth Israel in Boston. During her courageous fight against her illness she and her husband took a cross country trip to fulfill her bucket list. They shared many memorable experiences especially at the Grand Canyon.
Besides her husband, she leaves her parents, Steven W. Baker and his wife, Nancy of Vernon, Conn. and Susan N. (Gauvin) Sexton and her husband, Robert of East Hartford, Conn.; her sister, Jody A. Gottman and her husband, Eric of West Simsbury, Conn.; her stepson, Nate Sapienza of Groveland; two stepdaughters, Jaque Sapienza and Naomi Sapienza both of Groveland; two stepbrothers, James A. Davies and his wife, Peov of Westford and Joseph W. Davies and his wife, Sarah of Ambridge, Pa.; two stepsisters, Amy Berlin Whitehead and her husband, Frank of Manchester, Conn. and Jill Sexton of Long Beach, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
ARRANGEMENTS: Her family will receive friends on Saturday, January 12, 1-4 p.m., followed by a service of remembrances and sharing at 4 p.m., at the Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, 551 Talcottville Rd., Vernon, Conn..
In honor of Heather’s devotion to helping others, her family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lazarus House, P.O. Box 408, Lawrence, MA 01842. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.
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