Josephine A. Healy

Josephine A. (Walsh) Healy passed away peacefully surrounded by her five children on June 29, 2022.  She entered into the presence of the Lord, and is now reunited in Eternal Rest with her husband, Eugene F. Healy, with whom she shared 65 years.

Josephine was filled with kindness, compassion, and understanding. She valued her faith, family and friends and was a wonderful role model to her five children, her ten grandchildren and her eight great-grandchildren. Her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family.

Josephine is survived by her children, Kathleen Healy Piccirillo and her husband Thomas, Kevin Healy and his wife Rosemary, Jeanne Healy Lanzetta and her husband Frank, Maureen Healy and Bill Brown, Eileen Healy-Forster and her husband Jeffrey, and her brother-in-law, James M. Healy. She excelled in her role as Grandmother to her grandchildren: Bryan, Kristen, Shannon, Jennifer, Michele, Nicholas, Gabrielle, Kelsey, Megan, and Ryan. She was a proud great-grandmother to Andrew, Danny, Cole, Josephine, Greta, Nora, Luke, and Connor. She was loved by many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Josephine (Jo) was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Joseph L. Walsh and Irene Connolly Walsh on June 8, 1933.  The youngest of the three Walsh girls, Jo was predeceased by her sisters, Emma and Veronica. Named after her father, she was the apple of his eye, and they shared many Saturday outings  to his office at General Motors in Manhattan, to  the corner drugstore for ice cream sodas, and to Luna Park in Coney Island.  Josephine attended St. Joseph’s Commercial High School graduating in 1951. During her school years, Jo met her lifelong friends - Patsy Dooley and the Byers twins, Mary Ellen and Peggy,  with whom she shared a lifetime of love and laughter.  After high school, Jo worked for several years as a secretary in the RCA and Chrysler Buildings in Manhattan. Josephine married Eugene (Gene) Healy in June 1955, headed down to North Carolina for Gene’s Marine Corps’ years, and  began their family.

Jo and Gene moved many times as their family grew, finally settling in Westmoreland in Ridgefield in 1968 where they lived for 32 years. She made many friends, volunteered at St. Mary’s Church for over 20 years, and cherished her time with her Bible group of almost 40 years. She was a partner with Gene at Ridgefield Parks and Recreation and worked side by side with him in his role as the Commissioner of “Friends of Ridgefield". In 2000, Jo and Gene moved to Lake Place in Danbury, and true to her nature, she became an active member of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, as well as  the Church’s Prime Timers Group.

Family was the cornerstone of Josephine’s life. She never missed an opportunity to attend her children’s and grandchildren’s events; traveling throughout the country to attend graduations, birthdays, and her grandchildren’s births. She took a special interest in her grandson's Special Olympics Ridgefield cycling team, attending practices and athlete dinners. She was a valuable member of the cheerleading squad! Josephine also had a passion for  researching her family genealogy and sharing  those stories with her family.  Her volumes of research, pictures and memories will be forever passed down.  It was always important for Jo to keep in touch with friends and relatives, both near and far.  She never forgot a birthday or anniversary and always sent a card.  A phone call or note from Jo was always cherished. The family highlight for Jo, over the past 17 years, was the Healy Clan Reunion in Rhode Island each August, where she and Gene hosted and celebrated with the entire family.

Our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Josephine Walsh Healy was a true gem, selfless and kind with a compassionate spirit. She graced and fortified our lives more than we can express. She will be forever missed, but always in our hearts.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church; 520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield. Interment will take place privately, there will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Josephine’s name  to Special Olympics Ridgefield. Donations can be written out to “Special Olympics Ridgefield” and sent to: Special Olympics Connecticut - C/O Special Olympics Ridgefield; 2666 State Street, Suite 1; Hamden, CT 06517.

Kane Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

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