Heather Gail Freeland's Obituary
Heather Gail Bennet Freeland, 63, of Irving, Texas passed away July 10, 2011, from cancer. She was born on January 16, 1948, in El Centro, Columbia, South America to Canadian parents Gwendolyn Duncan Bennet and Robert John Bennet. She attended high school in Canada and then attended The University of Miami, Florida earning a degree in Biology in 1970. Heather was an avid reader especially enjoying the works of Ayn Rand. She enjoyed showing her beloved Pug dogs, an interest she shared with her parents. She loved to travel and had seen a great deal of the world. While she grew up in South America and Canada, she finally found a home when she moved to Texas and always said “Everything is bigger in Texas.” This is where she met and married Jerry Freeland on November 3, 1973, at the Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Heather’s professional career included several positions at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas regarding reimbursement, quality assurance auditing and post-payment medical review. After serving as a Medicare Hearing Officer for 8 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield, she joined Rose & Associates in 1996 as the Director of Coding and Compliance. While at Rose & Associates, Heather assisted ophthalmology clients with their Medicare reimbursement and compliance needs, lectured at national meetings and published many articles on compliance. Because of her vast Medicare knowledge and auditing experience over the last 15 years Heather was one of the highest regarded consultants in the industry. Heather is survived by her husband of 37 years, Jerry Freeland, mother-in-law, Iris Dominy Freeland and her sons and their wives, Jerry and Carolyn Dominy, James and Susan Dominy, Kenneth and Robin Dominy, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Linda and Danny Taylor, and a great many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. She was an only child but had a great many dear friends and “big brothers.” Truly a special part of Heather’s extended family was Ann Rose and the late Bill Rose, co-Founders of Rose & Associates, and Laurie Duff also of Rose & Associates. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Bennet, her mother, Gwen Bennet, her father-in-law, Harry Freeland, and her mother-in-law, Helen Freeland Brooks. Her ashes will be interred at Restland Memorial Park with only family members present. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the DFW Humane Society, 4140 Valley View Lane, Irving, Texas 75038, (972) 721-7788.
What’s your fondest memory of Heather?
What’s a lesson you learned from Heather?
Share a story where Heather's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Heather you’ll never forget.
How did Heather make you smile?