Marie Patricia Heilen passed away peacefully at her home in McLean, Virginia on December 17, 2025, following complications from a stroke. She was surrounded by her family as she returned to God and her ancestors, a moment marked by love and quiet grace.

Born on September 29, 1936, Marie was the daughter of Margaret and Wilbur Law and the eldest of six children. She grew up in Bayside, New York, where she learned the values that would long guide her – kindness, perseverance, and faith. Like many people born during the Great Depression and raised during World War II, Marie was both hardworking and tenacious, a combination that defined her spirit throughout her life.

Marie attended Queens College of the City University of New York, where she completed both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at a time when relatively few women earned college degrees. On July 3, 1960, she married the love of her life, Robert John Heilen, of Ridgewood, New York, at the Church on the Hill in Flushing, New York. Together, they built a life rooted in love, devotion, and joy. Anyone who watched them on the dance floor could easily see that they adored each other.

Her teaching career spanned more than 40 years, beginning with her service in the New York City Public School system and culminating in her retirement from Fairfax County Public Schools in 2009.  Marie spent much of her career teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) after earning graduate-level ESL certification from the University of Virginia. As a much-loved ESL teacher at Churchill Road Elementary School, Marie touched the lives of countless students. Many students returned years later simply to see her again – living proof of the powerful impact she had on their lives. Throughout her career, she positively shaped the lives of children through patience, encouragement, and a steadfast belief that every child deserves a good education and a chance at a better future.

Beyond the classroom, Marie found joy in travel, tennis, reading, and time at the beach, which she considered her sanctuary. More than anything, she adored her family and took pride in watching her children and grandchildren grow and thrive. Her love was steady, generous, and unconditional. 

Marie is survived by her brothers, Richard, Jonathan, and Robert; her sister, Virginia; her sons, Robert and Michael; her daughters-in-law, Tamae and Jennifer; her grandson, Kai; and her granddaughters, Jesse, Sophia, Naomi, and Jenna. She was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Wilbur; her husband, Bob; and brother, William. She will be dearly missed and cherished as someone whose light will forever shine in the hearts of those she taught, guided, and loved.

A funeral service for Marie will be held at Lewinsville Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 10, at 1:00 p.m. The family would greatly appreciate donations in her memory to Running Strong for American Indian Youth or Lewinsville Presbyterian Church.