Dan ’s Story

Site created on July 15, 2020

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting. I started this website because both of my parents have covid-19 ! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought this would be my reality. Dan Hegarty is my dad & my mom is Chris Hegarty. My dad was the first person to test positive and be admitted into the hospital on July 11th. My mom was admitted on July 13th. Today is Wednesday, July 15th & I'm typing their story on to this website. I needed a place to keep their information for all the people that care and love them could follow their journey. My hope for my parents to read this soon and see how far they have come in spite of a horrible virus! If you come to this website to read about how they are doing, I would love for you to say a prayer for them to recover quickly! In addition to my parents having covid-19 and being admitted into the hospital, my twin sister, Amber Deines & her boyfriend Tom Ryan, also have covid-19. They are at home and I pray they stay home. Please include them in your prayers. Thank you for all your messages, calls, texts & prayers! Courtney Froien

Newest Update

Journal entry by Courtney Froien

Good morning!

First I want to thank you all for every nice message that's been left, every text message, every phone call, every card, every meal that's been brought and for all of you that have constantly kept us in your prayers. I never ever thought this would be the way it was going to end. I have so many emotions.  The nurses at Methodist Hospital gave my dad incredible care and I know they tried everything they possibly could up until the very end. I struggle with understanding why it came to this and I don't know if I'll ever really truly understand. I do believe that my dad fought as hard as he did because he knew that his family would have never been okay with not being able to see him or touch him or hug him or say what you want to say to him under the circumstances that he was in. Sew-in typical dance style because he was such a warrior, he carried on until we could go see him. By the grace of God that day happened to be on July 31st which was my dad's 29th day I'm being in the hospital. Whenever you're covid-19 positive you're in isolation and can I have visitors no matter what. You have to make it 28 days..... That was the day that he could be taken out of isolation. My strong-willed, fight till the end, amazing dad gave it the fight I'm a lifetime not only did he make it 28 day but he actually went on to make it for 31 days altogether!  

I will eventually share more about what exactly happened oh, I'm sure most of you know that my dad fought this damn coronavirus. And he beat it. He beat covid-19!

No one could have prepared us or especially my dad, for the unpredictable and unthinkable residual effects of this stupid ass disease, covid-19- a thief!

Please see visitation & funeral information below! I look forward to seeing all of you who have supported my family over this past month!!!

Daniel R. Hegarty

July 24, 1946 – August 2, 2020

 

Daniel R. Hegarty passed away at the age of 74 in Omaha, Nebraska on Sunday, August 2, 2020 after a valiant battle with Covid 19.

Born in Omaha on July 24th, 1946, Dan is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, G. Chris (Grasso) Hegarty, with whom he fell in love while they were both still in high school.  Together, they raised two daughters, Amber Deines (friend Tom Ryan) and Courtney Froien (Michael.)  Dan’s world revolved foremost around Chris and his family, and he especially adored their four grandchildren: Grace and Faith Deines and Michael and Jack Froien, as well as his beloved nephew, Christopher McBreen.  He is survived also by his sister, Eileen South (Rusk); his two brothers, Tom Hegarty (Vici) and Jim Hegarty (Samantha) as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary (Dannehy) and Daniel R. Hegarty, and his younger sister Colleen Hawley.

Dan served in the United States National Guard from 1965 until 1971 and then worked for Union Pacific Railroad until his retirement.  He was a faithful friend of Bill W., and participated actively in the local recovery community for more than three decades, performing innumerable acts of service and serving as a role model for many.  He enjoyed a wealth of cherished friends in Omaha and the surrounding area and leaves behind a powerful legacy.  The world was better with him in it, and he will be missed by every person who knew him.

VISITATION following CDC guidelines: Friday, August 7th from 5pm to 7pm, at the West Center Chapel followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, August 8th, 12 Noon, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (14330 Eagle Run Dr.)


Thank you sooooooo much!
Courtney



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