Marissa Lynn Hoerr

Marissa Lynne Hoerr, 23, of Randolph Massachusetts, died suddenly at home on December 4, 2023. She graduated this summer, summa cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree from Bridgwater State University. She was proud to have two poems published this year in the literary journal Nocturne’s 20th anniversary issue. They were “I’ll Have a Pumpkin Coffee,” and “Im Not Good at Gratitude.”

Marissa enjoyed singing, dancing, and performing, loved her friends, and was amazing at helping those friends through their toughest moments. She wrote a chapbook called Release It All and was working on a book called Beautifully Human. In a poem called “I thought by now I would have written a book about what it took to overcome my struggles” she wrote “I think/I am tired of hearing about success stories/Tell me a story/About/The journey.” Marissa struggled for a decade against an eating disorder. She also struggled more recently with other mental health challenges.

Please forward your contact information to [email protected] for notification of any future events and publications. Tell us a story about the journey.

In life Marissa mourned the passing of her grandparents, Robert Leighton and John and Joanne Hoerr, and her aunt, Emily Leighton who died at age 45 of breast cancer. Marissa is survived by her father, John Peter Hoerr, her mother, Jamie Lynne Leighton, brothers, Adam Leighton and Joshua Hoerr, and grandmother, Marjorie Leighton, her uncles and aunts, Brad and Natalie Leighton, Spencer and Michelle Leighton, Matthew and Camille Leighton, and David and Christine Hoerr, her cousins, Rylee-Mae, Noah, Amanda, Benjamin, Lylah, Hailey, Rachael, and Ashley Leighton, Michael Spiegel and Danielle DeCosta, and her nephews, Gavin and Jayden Leighton.

Marissa enjoyed the companionship of her dog, Ellie May, and a cat who popped out of a box under some trees one August night, in need of rescue, Ryder.

Visitation hours are 4:30 to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, December 13, at Hurley Funeral Home, 134 South Main Street, Randolph. Marissa’s life will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Thursday, December 14 at First Congregational Church, 1 South Main Street, Randolph. Marissa’s burial service will be private.

Marissa’s family asks that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Marissa Hoerr be made to an organization where she worked to help others in need: Advocates, 1881 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 or www.advocates.org.