Heidi Hammell

Heidi Hammell, 62, of Auburn, NH, unexpectedly passed away in the arms of her sisters on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at the Arbors of Bedford, NH.

Heidi was born on March 20, 1957, in Milwaukee, WI, the youngest of four children born to William "Bill" and Margaretta "Peggy" (Kreckmann) Hammell. Before settling in Auburn in 1964, the family resided in Milwaukee; Oshawa, Ontario, Canada; and Williamsport, MD. During her years in NH, Heidi attended the Auburn Village School, Manchester Memorial and Central High Schools, and graduated with honors from Southern New Hampshire University.

Heidi began her career as a travel agent in NH before joining companies in NYC and ultimately Alaska. After working in remote locations such as the North Slope and the Aleutians, Heidi settled in Anchorage, where she worked at various agencies and taught travel courses at Alaska Pacific University.

A lifelong animal lover, Heidi was a permanent volunteer at the Alaska Humane Society in Anchorage, where she spent endless hours caring for cats and organizing fundraisers. During her spare time, Heidi generously hosted family and friends visiting AK and enjoyed wildlife spotting, camping with her dog, cuddling with her cats, and frequent travel to Hawaii and Walt Disney World.

Heidi was preceded in death by her parents Bill in 1964 and Peggy in 2018, step-father John Wornick in 2001, and sister-in-law Kayoko (Umezawa) Hammell in 2016. She is survived by her loving sisters Susan (Hammell) Anderson and Nancy Hammell, both of Auburn, NH; her brother William Steven Hammell of Honolulu, HI; her brother-in-law David Anderson of Auburn, NH; and her nephew William Masami Hammell and his family of Brookline, MA.

A reception celebrating Heidi's life will be held October 3, 2020 at the family's home following an 11:00 AM ceremony at Longmeadow Cemetery on Chester Road, Auburn, NH. Donations in Heidi's name can be made to the Alaska Humane Society (Adopt-a-Cat Shelter), PO Box 240587, Anchorage, AK 99524.