Johanna Ann (Wright) Heidtman

Johanna Ann Heidtman (nee Wright)

1949-2026

Jody Heidtman (affectionately known as Grammy, Nana, Jo, JoJo, and Mrs. H to her beloved family), 76, of  Charlestown, Rhode Island (formerly of Andover and Manchester, Connecticut) passed away on February 8th, 2026. 

Jody was born in Jewett City, CT on March 30, 1949 to Margaret and Francis Wright. On the way home from the hospital, her parents stopped at Norman’s Dairy for ice cream. “We had our ice cream, you had your thumb,” was how her mother told the story. Jody loved to tell stories about growing up in Jewett City and later about the “house on Washington Street” in Norwich. She delighted her children while they were growing up with tales of the pet squirrel she would push in a baby carriage; walking to the local pharmacy to buy five cent Coca-Cola in glass bottles; and fashioning hats out of toilet paper when she forgot her beanie to St. Mary’s School. She attended Norwich Free Academy before studying early childhood education at Southern Connecticut State University. 

It was at Southern where Jody met Jeffrey Heidtman at a “mixer” during a snowstorm in the winter of 1969. They married in 1971 and went to New York City on their honeymoon, where they saw Ravi Shankar and dined at Mama Leone’s. They welcomed son Matthew in 1974, and daughters Kate and Jaime in 1977 and 1981. As a family, they made many happy memories swimming in Andover Lake in CT and spending summers at their cottage in Charlestown, RI. Later in life, Jody enjoyed visiting her grandchildren Jake, James, Zoe, Lila and Eli in Massachusetts and Minneapolis. They delighted in her “no filter” approach and how she’d slip them chocolate, twenty dollar bills, and unsolicited advice. 

Jody was a talented educator who began a new moms’ group at Andover Congregational Church when her children were young, and later taught nursery school there. She went on to teach special education at the elementary level and at the Connecticut Department of Labor, helped her clients find meaningful work. A wordsmith like her father, a columnist at the Norwich Bulletin, Jody also moonlighted as a reporter for The Weekender, a local paper, writing human interest stories. Her true passion, though, was found working at EastConn in Willimantic, CT, teaching English as a second language and coaching young moms to get their General Education Diploma. She made a profound impact on these women (and they on her), keeping in touch and following their lives and successes for years. 

Everyone who knew Jody knew how much she loved antiquing, bookstores, anything on the BBC, People Magazine, watching Bridget Jones’ Diary on repeat,  perusing the shops in Watch Hill, RI, finding out the life story of everyone she met, and sending cards (she was an old soul who preferred handwritten notes to email and texts). Her love language was gift giving, and she relished every opportunity to show her love through a lovingly selected book, candle, pair of good socks, or anything she felt could bring comfort and joy to those she cared about. In retirement, she and Jeff enjoyed taking watercolor classes, traveling, rides in their convertible on sunny days, and sitting in their Adirondack chairs, watching the golden hour fall on Ningret Pond. 

Jody will always be remembered for her sense of humor, generous spirit, and kind heart. We’ll always imagine hearing her say Why don’t we sit down and have some lemonade after a day at the beach or the way her eyes squeezed shut and her shoulders shook when she laughed really hard. We’ll always feel a ping of love and remembrance for her when we hear Bonnie Raitt, Fleetwood Mac, or Frank Sinatra floating on a summer breeze, and miss her forever. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her. 

Jody was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Wright, her father, Francis Wright, and her beloved West Highland Terriers, Fiona and Chloe. She is survived by Jeff, her husband of 55 years, of Charlestown, RI; son Matthew, wife Geri, and children Lila and Eli of Edina, Minnesota; daughter Kate of Mystic, CT; and daughter Jaime and husband Joe and children Jake, James, and Zoe of Sudbury, MA. 

A wake will be held at Cummings-Gagne Funeral Home, 82 Cliff Street, in Norwich, CT on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 with calling hours from 9:30-10:30am, followed by a funeral service at 11am at Sacred Heart Parish, 52 West Town Street,  Norwich, CT. Burial to follow the service.

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