Heather Anne Ballinger, age 38, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Elkhart General Hospital from a sudden 3 day illness. Her parents, husband, daughter, brother and sister-in-law were by her side. Heather was born in Elkhart on March 13, 1973 to Galen and Rita (Lauer) Harley. She attended St. Thomas the Apostle grade school, graduated from Memorial High School in 1991, and went on to study nursing. Heather graduated from the Indiana University School of Nursing, South Bend in 1995 with her Bachelor of Science degree. Heather worked for several years in the Emergency Room at Elkhart General Hospital, Goshen General Hospital, and then returned to Elkhart General to work in the Intensive Care Unit. It was there that she met her future husband, and love of her life, Gabriel Michael Ballinger who is also a critical care nurse. Heather and Gabe married November 5, 2002 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in a chapel in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She took a break in her Nursing career in the summer of 2007 when they were blessed with their daughter, Maya Gabrielle, adopted from Guatemala. Maya was such a blessing, fulfilling Heather''s dreams of being a Mom. Heather, Maya, and Heather''s mom, Rita spent as many hours together as possible enjoying every experience with Maya. Heather, Gabe, Maya and Heather''s parents have traveled together extensively, sharing experiences they all cherished. Heather and Maya were inseparable. We thank God for allowing them this time together. Heather enjoyed doing crafts, quilting, and scrapbooking. She was a warm and loving person, always putting the needs of others before her own. She is survived by her parents, Galen and Rita Harley, her husband Gabriel Ballinger, her daughter Maya, of Elkhart, a brother Adam Harley, her sister in law Emily, her nephew Wyatt, and niece Lucy, all of Chicago, Illinois. Also surviving are her Uncles and Aunts, Dennis and Paula Lochmandy of St. Croix, USVI, John and Bev Lauer of The Villages, Florida, and her grandmother, Joyce Schaffer of Northport, Florida. Surviving as well are numerous Uncles, Aunts and Cousins of the Lauer, Bueter, and Harley extended families. Preceding her in death were her grandparents, Aurelia and Arthur Lauer, grandfather Galen Harley Sr., and step-grandfather Merle Schaffer. Visitation will be held from 10:00am-2pm Saturday, December 3, 2011 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola, Indiana. A private graveside service and interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. In her memory, contributions may be given to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island, GA, the Dolphin Research Center, Marathon Key, Florida or the charity of your choice.
Heather''s family would like to graciously thank the staff of the Elkhart General Hospital Emergency Room, and the Critical Care Unit where her friends and co-workers fought to save her.

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