Heather Busillo

Heather Terry Dennis Busillo, age 49, passed away on Sunday August 18, 2019 after a hard-fought battle with Breast Cancer. She was in Tennessee and had her loving husband and dog, Bluep, right by her side. Heather was born on April 8th, 1970 when she was adopted by her loving parents, Nolan and Norma Terry. She graduated from Viewmont high school in 1988 and started her career in the medical field.

Heather married Craig Dennis in 1989 and started their life and family together. Together they had two sons, Collin and Grainger, and one daughter, Victoria. Heather was such a giving and loving person. She came across a child who needed a good home and just knew he belonged to the family. Heather and Craig made the decision to adopt Liam in December of 2009. They were married for 25 years when they decided to end that chapter of their lives and part ways. They stayed in contact and remained good friends thought out the years.

Heather had spent most of her career working in shock trauma for IHC. She worked so hard to provide for and support her family. Heather absolutely loved her job and her shock trauma family and always had the best stories to tell her family. In 2014, Heather met her best friend, Alan Busillo. They had such a special connection right away.

In 2016, Heather decided it was time for a life change. She took a leap of faith and went to a job interview in Tennessee to be a 911 dispatcher. Heather knew it would be hard but had to follow her heart and pursue her dreams of living out in the country. She got the job and they knew they couldn't pass up this opportunity. Heather, Alan, Grainger and Liam moved to Tennessee that summer. Heather and Alan got married in the Smoky Mountains November 12th, 2016.

It was a couple days before Christmas 2016 when Heather was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Heather was a fighter and immediately knew she had to do all that she could to beat it. After a long year of chemo and radiation, Heather was cancer free towards the beginning of 2018. That only last two months at most when we received the news that her cancer was back. They had found a mass on her hip and her cancer was now stage 4. Heather still continued to stay strong and fight. In January of 2019, doctors discovered 4 small tumors on her brain. Heather was brave and courageous and underwent centralized pinpoint radiation on those tumors. The tumors had multiplied and she underwent another round of radiation on her brain. Everything was looking well and Heather continued with her treatment plans. In the month of July, there was another spot of cancer discovered on her liver. Heather was getting ready to start a new treatment when she developed a lung infection and was hospitalized on Saturday, August 10th. She was sent home on Monday with oxygen and remained on oxygen that week. The Saturday night before she passed, she was taken to the hospital because her lungs weren't getting any better. Heather wasn't in any pain and passed with a smile on her face that Sunday afternoon with her husband and dog by her side.

Heather was one of the most incredible and inspiring people. She was such a joy to be around and brightened any room she walked into. Even when she was struggling, she found peace and joy in making others happy. Her family is so incredibly proud of her and how hard she fought. She will be loved, missed and in our hearts forever.

Heather is survived by her husband Alan Busillo, her father Nolan Terry, her sister Lesleeann Green, her children Collin and Marie Dennis, Victoria, Grainger and Liam Dennis, Jackson Calder, Tina and Carleton Kennedy, Tiffany and Derek Perkins, Melanie and Justin Lea, and grandchildren Cameron, Chloe and Caden.

There will be a viewing from 9:30-10:30 am Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at Russon Mortuary in Bountiful, Utah (295 north Main St. Bountiful, Utah 84010) followed by graveside services at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery (1640 E Lakeview Dr. Bountiful).

With all of her treatments, not being able to work, funeral and travel expenses and fulfilling her last wish of being brought home to Utah, her family is struggling financially. We are raising money to go to help Heather's Family in lieu of flowers. There is a bank account set up at Wells Fargo under the "Heather Busillo Memorial Fund" that people can contribute to. If there is anyone that would like to contribute and send money online, they can do so over venmo (@Tori-Dennis-3) or cashapp ($itstortado).

(Written by Heather's daughter, Victoria Dennis)