Mary Maxine Thompson Healy

Born on July 24, 1919 in Avon, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Reverend Thomas Walter Thompson and Mary Eliza (Thorpe) Thompson, and the second youngest of five children. Mary graduated from Urbana High School, in Urbana, Illinois in 1937, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois in 1942. She was a lifelong Methodist and was very active in the Ridgewood United Methodist Church in New Jersey for over fifty years. She was involved in countless aspects of the church’s ministry, including; Women’s Circle, Bible studies, working in economically distressed communities and others.

She married the late Edward J. Healy on July 3, 1943, and they shared a happy sixty-eight year marriage. It was in this marriage that Mary blossomed into her true calling as a wife, mother and homemaker. Mary had been raised in a family that bathed her in love. She brought an unlimited supply of that love to her marriage, family and friends. In return, she was loved by all around her. People gravitated to her. They knew they were in a safe, warm and welcoming place with her. She never angered or judged. She just loved. She had a true servant’s heart. She constantly cared for her family, her friends and those she encountered in her church work. She rarely rested. From morning until night she was always doing something for others.

Mary always strived to have a positive attitude. She told countless stories of growing up during The Great Depression in various small towns in Illinois. She often commented that she never felt poor. She said they ate oatmeal each morning and made their own clothes. But, raised in a loving family, she never felt deprived of anything. Their Christmas presents were gallon-sized containers of ketchup that the whole family would share. Those gifts were invariably accompanied by funny, deliberately misspelled notes from Santa Claus. Her family spent Christmas days much the way they spent the rest of the year, laughing and loving in the warmth of fellowship.

Mary had four siblings, all of whom she adored; the late Jean Lawson, Wayne Thompson, Thorpe Thompson and Bob Thompson. Mary is survived by her three adult children; Linda Chambers (Herb), Kathy Clements (Rick), and Bob Healy (Cheryl). She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Deb Kunze (Russ), Kevin Chambers, Matt Chambers, Bryan Clements (Amanda), Stacy Heckman (Brian), Trevor Healy (Michelle), Chris Healy (Haley), and John Healy (Caroline). She is also survived by ten great grandchildren: Nick Kunze, Noah Kunze, Gabe Chambers, Grace Chambers, Joel Clements, Camryn Clements, Natalie Clements, Payton Heckman, Parker Heckman, and Dylan Healy. Mary is also survived by her niece Bobbie Swenson (Brent).

Mary’s family would like to recognize the loving care she received over the last several years from Embrace Care at Southminster.

A memorial service will be held at a later date, when it is safe for people to travel and gather.

For anyone wishing to send a memorial gift, please consider Ridgewood United Methodist Church (NJ) (www.ridgewoodumc.net) or 100 Dayton Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.

Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com