Geraldine "Gerry" Snyder Heenan, 84, of Franklin, NC passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, in Chapel Hill, NC.

Gerry was born in West New York, New Jersey to the late Frederick William and Mary Byrnes Snyder. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Peter Heenan; son, Frank Peter Heenan, Jr.; and brother, Frederick William Snyder, Jr. As a young woman, Gerry traveled from Tenafly, NJ to Louisiana then to Fussa-machi Japan where she lived with her husband and daughter for three years. After coming back to the US, she raised her two children in Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC. In 1980, Gerry, big Frank, and Frankie moved to Franklin, NC where she lived for the next forty-two years, loving the mountains and the quiet pace of the town. While in Franklin, she was an inn keeper, co-founding the Buttonwood Inn on the Franklin Golf Course. She loved to collect antiques and vintage items and had a small antique shop called the Buttonhole. Gerry enjoyed caring for infants while working in childcare and served as a Hospice care volunteer. She was gifted artistically and enjoyed creating beautiful things, including painted items, hooked rugs, crafted Christmas decorations, sewn pillows and draperies, and a beautiful home and garden. Gerry was a well-loved, humble, and gentle individual. She is lovingly remembered as a caring wife, wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend.

Gerry is survived by her daughter, Tracy Heenan, and son-in-law, John Laurence Daw; brother, John Patrick Snyder; grandson, Laurence Byrnes Daw; granddaughter, Tierney Brienna Daw; and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service for the immediate family was held at Woodlawn Cemetery on Friday, April 26th at 11am. Macon Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Online condolences can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Gerry's name to Hospice House Foundation of WNC-Franklin.