Lula M. Heffron

Lula Mae Heffron (Sorrell) died peacefully of natural causes on December 21, 2020, just shy of her 88th birthday. She was born in Memphis Tennessee to Thomas and Violet Sorrell on January 9, 1933. Mom who we all called 'Mama' grew up in Memphis and went to the same high school at the same time as Elvis Presley as he was only two years younger. She moved to Ithaca in the 60's with her husband who was born here and continued to reside in Ithaca, NY for the remainder of her adult life. She was a Memphis girl at heart though and never got used to the cold winters of New York. She was a dedicated mother and wife and an excellent cook. Her pies and baked beans were legendary. She would can fruits and vegetables that were grown in the garden every year. We lived on a farm and I remember how she hated it when the cows got out especially when she was home alone. I get a tickle just thinking about her chasing cows. She kept an immaculate house and always had a home-cooked dinner on the table at Five o'clock. She loved having the grandkids come to visit and loved to give them treats. The grandkids remember how she would unfailingly send them home with arms full of goodies after a visit. I remember that whenever one of the kids was sad, or got hurt, she would instantly offer them a treat to make them feel better.

Mom started college at TC3 when she was in her fifties and graduated from the Nursing program as an RN. She chose to go into geriatrics and was a nurse at Cayuga Ridge for many years. She loved caring for the elderly and bringing them love and smiles. She talked a lot about how she liked to make them laugh. Mom was mentally sharp right up until the last year. She knew what she thought and wanted. She made all her own choices right up till the last. I remember one time a medical person came in the room and started talking to me about her medical needs and she piped right up and said she was right there and he could talk to her. I loved that about her. She was definitely strong-willed.

Lula Mae had three children: Eugene Heffron and two daughters whom she lovingly adopted when they were four & six, Theresa Lynn Berggren, and Julie Anna Sorrell, all of Ithaca NY. She had nine grandchildren whom she loved very much: Michael Heffron, Brian Heffron, Amy Heffron, Robert Berggren, Timothy Berggren, Michelle Berggren, Crystal Berggren, Karl Ehrgott, and Jacob Ehrgott. It was always a joy to her when they visited her. She had fourteen great-grandchildren. Lula also had nieces and nephews who she was very close to. She was predeceased by her loving son Eugene Heffron and her beloved grandson Michael Heffron. She was also predeceased by her brothers Melvin Purser, Bill Purser, Robert Purser, and sisters Tommie Smith and Katie Gooch.