William R. "Bill" Heckman Jr.

PEABODY – Mr. William R. “Bill” Heckman Jr., 71, of Peabody, beloved husband of Carole (Colangelo) Heckman, passed away unexpectedly following a sudden heart attack at his home on February 9th, 2026.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he was the son of the late William Sr. and June (Page) Heckman. Bill was raised and educated in Beverly and was a graduate of Beverly High School, Class of 1973, where he played varsity lacrosse and enjoyed many winter afternoons on the ponds playing hockey with his friends. From those early days on the ice and field to his fifty years as a Master Plumber, Bill was a natural "connector" of people. He possessed a rare gift for fostering relationships that spanned decades; to Bill, a first-time customer or a casual acquaintance was simply a friend he hadn't fully met yet.

Professionally, Bill owned and operated his own plumbing business serving the North Shore for over half a century, and shared his talents at Salem Hospital and as the Director of Maintenance at Blueberry Hill Healthcare Center in Beverly.

In 2012, Bill brought his heart for service to the O’Donnell Funeral Homes of Salem and Danvers. As a Licensed Funeral Assistant, he found a profound calling in caring for others during their most difficult moments. Bill guided families with a signature blend of dignity and grace, always standing ready with a supportive arm or a kind word. His intrinsic need to help people made him the backbone of the funeral home and a trusted face in the community.

Bill’s connection to the North Shore ran deep, shaped by decades of service and friendship. He was a pillar of Peabody youth sports, coaching soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, and serving as co-head of the PVMHS Lacrosse Boosters. Whether he was acting as the grill master for the SNHU grill team, volunteering for decades at Haven for Hunger, or enjoying a round with his golf leagues, Bill was always at the center of the action, bringing people together with his easy laugh and quick smile. He was a proud member of the Polish Club in Danvers and a fantastic cook and loved to ski. He cherished his travels to Turks and Caicos and annual trips to Cape Cod.

Family remained the heartbeat of Bill’s life. He was a man of immense loyalty who never missed a sporting event, dance recital, or milestone. He was genuinely curious about the lives of others, and it is estimated that his connections numbered in the tens of thousands. To know Bill was to know you had a dependable, caring friend for life. He was, quite simply, an all-around good guy.

In addition to his loving wife of 17 years, Carole, Bill is survived by his children: Keifer Heckman and his fiancée Kaitlin of Peabody, John Paul Hillette and his wife, Katie of Salem, Nicholas Ouellette and his wife, Sydney of Wakefield, and Desiree Dugas and her husband, Keith of Medford. He was the cherished grandfather of Carolyn, Kayleigh, Lucy, and Jeremy. He is also survived by his siblings, Elaine Heckman of Beverly and Wayne Heckman of Peabody, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a community of friends and co-workers who became family. Bill has joined his parents, William and June Heckman; his son, Keaton Heckman; his sister, Gail Heckman; his niece, Haley Jalbert; and nephew, Christopher Heckman, in the arms of the angels in heaven.

ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral service will be held at O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Square, (at Salem Common) SALEM, Saturday, Feb. 14th at 11 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Friday, Feb. 13th from 4 to 7 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to Peabody Youth Lacrosse, C/O 12 John Rd., Peabody, MA 01960. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com

DONATE TO PEABODY YOUTH LACROSSE IN HONOR OF BILL: DONATE HERE