Barbara W. Hearne

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Barbara Jean (Wheatley) Hearne, aged 86. Barb passed away peacefully at her home in Adams, NY surrounded by family, after a long illness. Born on June 28, 1937 in Syracuse, she was the daughter of Clifford and Eliza (Allen) Wheatley. Barb was predeceased by numerous beloved brothers and sisters.

Barb grew up in East Syracuse and was a graduate of North Syracuse High School. It was there that her dearest friendship blossomed with Dorothy Kuhn (Luce). It was through Dot that Barb met her hunk and heartthrob of a cousin, James Hearne. Ironically, Jim and Barb had been seeing other people at the time when they all ventured out on a double date. Barb had the chance to dance with Jim the next evening and the rest was history. It took three songs for him to realize she was the one. You'd have to be crazy to not fall in love with Barbara Jean. After Jim returned from a tour serving in the Navy, the two were engaged in front of the aptly named 'Sweetheart Corner' in North Syracuse. On June 16, 1956, she married her best friend and forever-dance partner, James Clarence Hearne.

Shortly after marrying, the couple began their rewarding and equally exhausting journey raising their family. Barb dedicated her life to enriching the lives of her children, James, Timothy, and Kimberly. She was a super mom, keeping a watchful eye on her three audacious children as they would find themselves atop their feisty family horses and often rode around on snowmobiles, of which both boys found alluring —every mother's dream scenario. She was a caring and straightforward mom, balancing many facets of her household, her children's lives, and the farm she and Jim maintained. Barb dedicated her time to various jobs. She shared her care and time with children as a classroom aide in the North Syracuse Schools and worked at Edward Joy Lighting Co in sales, retiring after 10 years.

Barb deeply enjoyed spending time with her husband, dancing the night away at the Ham Jam with their friends. They also enjoyed traveling together, road tripping to Maine and Florida most frequently and even took a cross country trip with their boys later in life. Barb had such a deep passion for the camp she and Jim shared and continue to share with anyone lucky enough to be in their lives. Sackets Harbor, NY and the people who inhabit it held a special place in her heart. The door was always open and the tables always filled with snacks of the healthiest variety, from ants on a log to her personal bran muffins to her infamous 'Gram's Raspberry and Blackberry Jam'. You could find her at any point in the day outside tending to her garden, often with another project on the ground next to her or out on the water kayaking peacefully around the lake with the local swans, camera in hand. Her passion for gardening brought about the most beautiful love for Monarch butterflies. Barb worked in the butterfly house at Thompson Park Zoo for a short time, cultivating her own version of a butterfly garden at home and at camp. She brought life to everything she touched and transformed so many lives—human, plant and animals alike. She was a warm, loving, and generous Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma, and friend to absolutely all. If you knew her, she claimed you as hers— how lucky we were to have been loved by her.

She is survived by her best friend and husband, James C. Hearne of Adams, NY; son, James Hearne Jr. (Debbie) of Watertown, NY; son, Timothy Hearne (Jill) of Clay, NY and daughter, Kimberly Hearne of Adams, NY. She is survived by five grandchildren, Katherine Roberts (Rick) of Liverpool, NY, Kimberly Birklin (Daniel) of Cicero, NY, Jimmy Hearne of Beaverton, OR, Timothy J. Hearne Sr. (Olivia) of Clayton, DE and Jenny Cerne (Ethan) of Canandaigua, NY; great-grandchildren, Kylie and Caden Roberts of Liverpool, NY, Corbin and Nolan Birklin of Cicero, NY, Delaney Hearne and Timothy J. Hearne Jr., of Clayton, DE, NY, Spencer Cerne of Canandaigua, NY and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may call on Sunday, February 18, 2024, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, at the New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 705 North Main Street, North Syracuse, NY with a funeral service to follow at 4 PM.

Go outside, find a little bit of nature to take in, and think of Barb. You'll never know, dear, how much we loved you—our sunshine.

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