HIETT, Carol Heitz, 79, died in Williamsburg on January 18. The eldest of the seven children of Dolores Wurst Heitz and Carl J Heitz of Delphos, Ohio, Carol is survived by five of those siblings; Liz, Gloria, Joe, Dee Dee and Shellie Heitz and by their spouses. She is also survived by her husband of 48 years, Bob Hiett (the two caught each other’s eye in 1950 in Sister Mary Vernon’s first grade classroom at St. John’s School in Delphos). Also surviving are Carol and Bob’s two children, David Heitz Hiett and his wife Lillian and their two daughters Dalila and Avalyn, and their daughter Elizabeth Irene Hiett, her husband Justin James Reed and her stepson Thian Reed. A daughter, Ann, and a brother, Carl, died years ago.

Educated at St. John’s, The College of St. Mary of the Springs, Columbus, and Loyola University, New Orleans, Carol enjoyed a long career in a variety of positions, all linked by her deep commitment to Peace, Justice and Education. From her first job, as Director of the John XXIII Head Start Program in Columbus, through her time at the National Conference of Catholic Charities in Washington to her final gigs, in Richmond, where she served as Director of Religious Ed at two Downtown parishes, St. Paul’s Episcopal and the Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Carol strove to enable and empower those in her care.

A woman of protean interests and talents, Carol was a spirited and imaginative cook, flower arranger, gardener, puzzle meister and bridge player. From her kitchen and from her Tappahannock garden plot there flowed all manner of delectables: pesto, raspberry jam and tomatoes most memorably, deliciously. Her salad dressings and pastas and Christmas cookies gladdened the hearts of the many who sat at her table.

Carol was a quiet woman, but one with a rapier wit. She was kind, thoughtful, gentle and unceasingly patient. A lovingly supportive spouse, mother, sister, friend, sage and confidante, she was also a somewhat driven planner and organizer, especially of travel and holiday plans. Carol, her good works and lovingly remarkable personality, will be treasured and sorely missed.

A celebration of Carol and of all that she brought to life will be held this spring. Because of her lifelong focus on the struggle for Peace and Justice, preferred memorials would be to the Legal Aid Justice Center (www.justice4all.org).