Valerie K Healey

May 11, 1948 – April 27, 2025

Val Healey took her last breath peacefully and mercifully at 5:15AM on April 27 after a long and gruesome journey with Alzheimer's disease.

Val recognized her greatest attribute as creativity. Those of us who loved her also appreciated that she was bright, strong-willed, passionately committed to supporting children, a lover of the natural world and incredibly kind – always on the lookout for those who needed a helping hand. Val was a proud and steadfast lifelong Mainer and she remained loyal to her family. She cherished her friendships, some of which she nurtured for a lifetime.

Val taught in Augusta, Bangor and Portland, dedicating the first half of her professional career to teaching special education, and later, to teaching first, second and third graders. She was a passionate and creative educator, always alert and flexible to take advantage of “teachable moments.” She genuinely loved all of her students and took extra care to reach out to the kids that needed extra support and TLC. She excelled in recognizing a wide variety of learning styles and adapted her creative teaching techniques to encourage engagement and success. Throughout her career, she continued her personal growth as a teacher, becoming particularly valued for her expertise in multidisciplinary learning, elementary school reading and science education. Nearly every night, Val would share minor and sometimes major miracles that she had orchestrated at school that day. She lived the admonition, “Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.” Given her commitment to her students, she never planned social activities on school nights, because she used that time to prepare for the next school day.

Val was not a person that brought attention to her considerable professional achievements. Still, one contribution, among many, stands out. Val became a trailblazer by creating Portland's first outdoor education classroom and trail. The Lyseth Elementary School trail is now a permanent link in the Portland Trails network and serves as a valuable place for Lyseth students to explore, play and learn. The trail stands as a fitting legacy to Val's commitment to kids, outdoor education and hands-on learning.

Val loved Portland and its nearby beaches and trails for strolls with her treasured golden retrievers. Val also frequented Portland's art galleries, live music and theater venues, the Portland Museum of Art, Pat's Market, and Evergreen Cemetery. She held two places in Maine especially close to her heart. First was the family camp at Aziscohos Lake, with kayaking, campfires, camaraderie, great food and dazzling night skies. And next was Acadia National Park, where Lois and Val spent their first vacation together and where Val's spirit was lifted by the glorious beauty of the coastline and mountains.

In retirement, one of Val's happiest places was her home studio where she found pure joy as a masterful potter, jewelry-smith and painter. Val was also a talented and passionate gardener and a gourmet chef that elevated everyday dinners to an art form. She was also a consummate reader and lover of the natural world. She found purpose, fulfillment and joy in helping new Maine immigrants improve their English reading and writing skills at Portland Adult Education. Val, Lois and dear friends enjoyed countless outdoor adventures, near and far. Val modeled the idea that life at its best is a journey of curiosity, sharing and lifelong learning.

Most importantly, Val lived a rich and full life, bringing deep and empathic kindness to people and other beings in our world, in meaningful ways that will ripple ever-outward and forward.

Val is survived by her three sisters, their two husbands, four nieces and nephews and ten grand-nieces and grand-nephews in Winthrop and Strong, ME, by her cousins and their family in VT, by many friends in the Portland area and beyond, by countless students inspired by Val's infectious love of learning, by Morgan Brown of Westbrook and by Lois Winter of Portland, her lifetime partner of 34 years.

Caregiving should never be a solo journey and Lois shares deepest gratitude for special friends who leaned in to help, to the professional and compassionate caregivers at Avita of Stroudwater, and most recently, the staff at Maine Med P-6 and Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

Flowers will be growing in abundance in Val's home gardens before long. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, you may wish to donate in Val's honor to one of the following organizations whose mission she treasured: Portland Trails (portlandtrails.org), Friends of Acadia (friendsofacadia.org), Preble Street Resource Center (preblestreet.org), Friends of Portland Adult Education (friendsofpae.org) or PSL

Services Strive (pslstrive.org).

Val's memorial celebration for friends will be held at Lois and Val's home in Portland from 1 pm - 4 pm on Saturday, May 31. There will be live music by Bess Jacques, and extraordinary musician, tasty finger food and drinks, a slide show of Val's life and adventures, and opportunities for those who want to share memories or thoughts about Val. If weather is nice, we'll enjoy the outdoor gardens, and if weather is unsettled, there will be room indoors. If you need directions to our home, please contact Lois at [email protected] Please let Lois know if you plan to attend so that she can plan food accordingly.