Family, Friends, and Humanity has lost April Kay (Hollister) Haffner of Randolph, Massachusetts to a sudden illness on March 23, 2021. Her nurturing of all those she met professionally as a therapist in mental health and substance abuse will be missed. During her life, she was a blood and platelet donor and continues in her giving ways as she was an organ donor. May we all strive to be more human and love one another, as she loved us, unconditionally.
The daughter of Goldie Marshall and Phillip Earle Hollister, April was raised in Medway, Massachusetts by Phil and stepmother Jean. She graduated from Medway High School and attended the Rittners School of Floral Design. She later received a degree in plant and soil science from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. In 1977, she married Bruce L. Haffner of Braintree, Massachusetts and they settled in Randolph.
While her girls were growing up, she served Randolph Public Schools as a Teaching Assistant and was active as a PTO board member and as a Girl Scout leader in Randolph. In 2007, she earned a BA in Human Services/Mental Health Counseling at Lesley University. During that time she worked with autistic children in several locations. She earned her M. Ed in Mental Health Counseling at Bridgewater State University in 2012. She pursued her counseling career at High Point Treatment Center in Brockton, High Point Hospital in Middleboro, and Aspire Health Alliance in Quincy, helping people struggling with drug and alcohol dependence.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce L. Haffner, and three daughters: Megan Rose Haffner, Lauren Elizabeth Haffner, and Sarah Marie Haffner, her grandson, Vincent Ricciarelli. She is also survived by her sister Louise VanDemark, brothers Ward and Arthur Hollister and many family members, friends, and colleagues.
Funeral arrangements will be private. Donations in April’s memory may be made to The Resiliant Randolph Fund: https://unitedwaymassbay.org/covid-19/local-funds/randolph/, or by sending a check to the following address: United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Inc., P.O. Box 412866, Boston, MA. 02241-2866. Please make checks payable to “United Way of Massachusetts Bay” and include “The Resilient Randolph Fund” in the memo of your check.
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