Mary-Jo Healy

Obituary MARY-JO (HANLEY) HEALY Feb. 26, 1939 ?" Sept. 21, 2008 Mary-Jo Healy, 69, of Tacoma, Washington, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, passed away on September 21, 2008. She died unexpectedly in the presence of her beloved and loving husband of 45 years, James. M. Healy, Jr., and close family. Mary-Jo was born on February 26, 1939 in Evanston, Illinois to Lee and Dorie Hanley. She grew up in Edmonds, Washington with her beloved sisters, Bridget Hanley Swackhamer and Molly Hopkins. Mary-Jo graduated from Edmonds High School in 1957 and continued her education at Meryl Hurst College and the San Francisco Lone Mountain College for Women. She graduated from Seattle University with honors, summa cum laude, in 1961. Shortly thereafter, our beloved mother married her true love and inseparable partner of 45 years. Mary-Jo was a faithful and devoted member of our community. She taught K-12 at St. Patrick School and the Tacoma Public School District. She served as the first women President of the United Way of Pierce County, President of the Catholic Woman's Club, and President of the Junior League of Tacoma. She was a Board Member and President of the St. Leo's Food Connection and the Job Carr Cabin. She served as the Director of Development for the Greater Lakes Mental Health Foundation, and was a principal fund raiser for the Pantages Theatre. Mary-Jo was a steadfast member of the Bellarmine and St. Patrick school communities, and a devout member of St. Leo's Parish. She remained a lifelong advocate for these and other service related organizations. Mary-Jo cherished the many long lasting friendships throughout her years of service. Mary-Jo enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and her collie Paddy. She enjoyed reading, sports, yearly trips to Maui with her beloved husband, and their summers at Joe's Bay. Grandma-Jo especially enjoyed spending time with her two grandsons, Tyler and Brendan. She enjoyed working with and assisting the many non-profit corporations that she represented for the last 30 years. Mary-Jo dreamed of being a veterinarian and expressed that desire through her love of animals. Mary-Jo is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Jim Healy, sons, Tim (Jennifer) Healy and Ted Healy, daughter, Kate Healy, grandsons, Tyler Healy and Brendan Healy, sisters Bridget Hanley Swackhamer and Molly (Webb) Hopkins, nephews Roger McPherson and Cooper Hopkins, nieces, Christine Andreychuk, Anne Marie Davis, Bronwyn Swackhamer, Megan Gefsky, Keelyn Healy, Phoebe Hopkins, and many other friends and family members. Mary-Jo is preceded in death by her father Lee Hanley, her mother, Dorie Hanley, her brother-in-law, E.W. Swackhamer, her father-in-law, James M. Healy Sr., and her mother-in-law, Theresa Healy. Funeral Mass and celebration of her life will be held at St. Leo Catholic Church, 710 S. 13th Street Tacoma, WA 98405 on Friday September 26, 2008 at 12:10 pm, followed by a graveside service and reception. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel, 1002 South Yakima Avenue Tacoma, WA 98405 on Thursday September 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mercy Corps International, 3015 SW 1st Ave Portland, OR 97201.