Seattle, Washington - Mervette "Mimi" Magdi Heggelund, 75, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2025, in Seattle, after a courageous, five-year journey with pancreatic cancer.

Mimi was born on February 23, 1950, in Alexandria, Egypt, to Magdi Youssef Rizk and Laurice George Abdel Malek. She grew up in one of Egypt's most cosmopolitan cities, immersed in a vibrant Mediterranean culture shaped by Egyptian, Greek, British, Italian, and French influences. Fluent in Arabic, English, and French, Mimi developed early into a deeply curious and gifted child. She attended the English Girls' College, where she excelled academically and formed lifelong friendships. Summers were spent along the Mediterranean with her parents and older sister Mona—swimming, playing tennis, and enjoying time with family, including her uncle Joseph Rizk, her aunt Aida Mishriky, and cousins Nabil and Nagy.

In 1966, at just sixteen, Mimi and her sister boarded a plane for the first time to America. They left behind the only life they knew in Egypt with little more than suitcases and their mother's fierce belief in education, independence, and opportunity. They joined her uncle Joseph and aunt Betty Ann Rizk in Bellevue, Washington, where Mimi skipped a grade, graduated early from Bellevue High School, and entered the University of Washington in 1969.

At the University of Washington, Mimi found the intellectual intensity she had long craved. She immersed herself in psychology, literature, languages, and early childhood education. An avid reader, she also attended lectures by leading thinkers of the time and was an active member of the international student community. Her academic path culminated in a Ph.D. in early childhood development and special education, earned in 1981.

While a student at UW, Mimi met the love of her life, Per Heggelund, at an international student gathering in 1969. Per, a Norwegian student from the small town of Andenes, 300 miles above the Arctic Circle, became her steadfast partner. They married in Seattle on December 23, 1972, beginning a marriage that spanned 53 years and was defined by deep love, mutual respect, laughter, and unwavering companionship.

Together, Mimi and Per raised two children, Kristine (born 1983) and Erik (born 1984), instilling in them a love of learning, kindness, and pride in their Egyptian and Norwegian heritage. Mimi was an exceptional mother—deeply devoted and always putting her family first. She was the quiet force behind her family—the one who remembered, anticipated, organized, encouraged, and showed up for the small things and the big things. She made her children feel safe and fiercely loved. These were her favorite years, and she soaked in every moment, never taking that time for granted.

While juggling family life, Mimi continued to devote her professional life to education, research, and global collaboration. She served as an instructor and researcher at the University of Washington's College of Education, translating her experience as an international consultant to promote knowledge and institutional development in the Middle East and Asia. Later, she became the Director of the International Program for the UW School of Nursing, retiring in 2015. Widely published and deeply respected, Mimi was known not only for her intellect but for her generosity as a mentor and collaborator. She worked tirelessly, not for recognition, but because she believed deeply in nurturing others—students, colleagues, and institutions—with the same care she gave her family.

In 2020, Mimi was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic cancer. True to her nature, she met the diagnosis with determination and rigorous research, seeking out innovative care. Under the guidance of Dr. Vincent Picozzi at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Mimi achieved remission in 2021. When the cancer returned in 2023 and again in late 2025, she continued to face each chapter with grace, resilience, and an unwavering devotion to those she loved.

Even in uncertainty and pain, her focus remained on her family—checking in, offering reassurance, and thinking of others before herself. Mimi found joy in her grandson, Alexander, in the solace of her garden, in long conversations with friends, and in the presence of her family. She remained gentle, thoughtful, and selfless to the very end.

Mimi was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. She made the lives of those around her richer simply by being part of them. While she will be deeply missed, her influence endures in the countless lives she shaped through love, education, and example.

Mimi is survived by her husband, Per; her children, Kristine and Erik; their spouses, Bill and Kamri; her grandson, Alexander; her sister Mona; her brother-in-law, Gunnar and her niece, Giselle; her aunts, Aida and Betty Ann, and their children, Nabil, Nagy, and Tia; and many beloved cousins and extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Magdi and Laurice, her uncle Joseph, and many dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Villa Academy on February 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. with Thomas Trzyna officiating.

Donations may be made in Mimi's memory to:

Virginia Mason

Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Fund

Attn: Dr. Vincent Picozzi

Virginia Mason Clinic

1100 9th Ave,

Seattle, WA 98111