Adelheid "Heidi" Stewart

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Adelheid “Heidi” Stewart, of Mont Vernon on August 2, 2021, at the age of 70 years. Heidi was a wonderful woman that was loved, is missed, and will always be cherished. It would be wrong to say that Heidi lost her battle with an aggressive cancer because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined and with a big smile on her face. Her joy for life, her family, helping others and steadfast spirit kept her pushing through the pain. Quitting was never an option. Heidi is survived by her sister Doris, her husband Alexander “Kevin”, their two sons and their wives Michael and Amanda Stewart, Alexander “Kelton” and Kathy Stewart, their daughter and her husband Tegan and Matthew Redmond: and five grandchildren, Ryleigh, Eirinn, Myles, Lilia and Arabella. Even as a little girl, born in Bremen, Germany to Father Max Paul and Mother Ursula Elfriede, Heidi was described as an unselfish, hardworking, kind-hearted person with a brilliant memory. Her story started in 1951, with her parents, older sister Doris, and younger brother Wolfgang where they all lived in a one-bedroom apartment with very little, during a tumultuous time in Germany’s history. When she was 16 years old, she met and fell in love with an American Soldier whom she married. She moved in with him on an American Base in Germany, where they had their son, Michael. When she was just 17 years old; without any fear or hesitation, Heidi embarked on a journey to the United States with her first husband, moving to Iowa. That marriage was not meant to last and following their divorce Heidi instantly became a single mother that was left with nothing. Though, being the tenacious, hard-working, positive person, she was, she was not going to let that affect her or her young son. She later ended up moving to Arizona, got a job working long hours for an electronics manufacturer, enrolled in nighttime dental school and started a new life with Michael. Heidi met some of her dearest and closest lifelong friends at this time, to whom she always referred to as her sisters, her family. After Heidi completed dental school, she was able to convince a dental office to take a chance on her. Heidi quickly showed how valuable she was as a dental hygienist, as well as a caring and organized person. Heidi was offered a full-time job as a dental hygienist and office assistant within 6 months of being hired. Heidi was the strongest woman any of us have ever met. She wasn’t afraid of anything. While living in Arizona and working at the electronics manufacturer, Heidi met lifelong partner and love, Kevin. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage within 6 months of meeting and Tegan was born a year later, followed by Kelton 16 months after that. With Michael in the Army and Kevin relocated to Minnesota for a new job opportunity Heidi took on the next challenge of her life at the same time as taking care of two young babies, Tegan and Kelton. She left her job as a dental hygienist, sold the house that she and Kevin had been living in and prepared to leave everything behind to follow Kevin north. Over the next 40 years Heidi and family would live in Minnesota, Oregon, California, another few short years in Arizona, New York, Colorado and end up in New Hampshire where the family has lived for almost 20 years. She made many new friends over the years and has always made it a point to keep in touch and be there for them. Heidi cared deeply for her family, friends, and neighbors. She did this not out of obligation, but because of who she was. She was always the first roll up her sleeves or offer help. She regularly brought meals or offered support to family, friends and people she had just met. She used her passion for sewing and quilting to keep family and friends warm and comfortable. And she always ensured that every child who crossed her path was safe, healthy, and happy. Her life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32 – “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” We wish to thank those who have extended spiritual, emotional, and physical support for Heidi in the past few months, especially the wonderful and caring nurses and aids at Home Health & Hospice Center and Pastor John of Christ Church of Amherst.