Tribute

"Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, enwrought with golden and silver light, the blue and the dim and the dark cloths of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. - W.B. Yeats Beloved mother and respected public servant, Jane M. Healy passed away at home in Denver Colorado, with her family. She celebrated her 90th birthday on February 1st. Her life is honored and her passing mourned by all who survive her including her family, dear friends, professional colleagues, and neighbors in her Congress Park neighborhood. Ms. Healy was born in 1932, the 3rd child of Leonard G. and Ruth V. (Doyle) Healy, in Boston MA. She is survived by sisters Ruth Buckley of Pittsburgh PA, Mary Maher of Shrewsbury MA and brother Len Healy, of Whiting, Maine. She was predeceased by her brother Seamus (Jim) Healy, whose wife Marion survives him in West Dennis MA. She was The Mom to seven unique individuals – daughter Kate, and sons Bob, Fred (deceased), Len (Lisa), Patrick, Mikey (Beth) and Kevin (Jenny); Grandmother of five – Emily (Ross) and Melanie, Benjamin and Natalie, and Makenna; and Great-Grandmother of Bruno. The children’s father, former husband Fred Allen, died in 2018. Ms. Healy was dear Aunt Jane to sixteen nieces and nephews and their families, creating lasting memories of her visits east and their “wild west” trips to her welcoming Denver home. Ms. Healy graduated in 1957 with a Master’s Degree in Education from The College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee MA. She taught college and high school English, and was an elementary educator at Francis M. Day School in Westminster CO. Ms. Healy was actively involved in progressive Colorado politics, a proclaimed “Proud Democrat”. After seeing her children through early childhood, in 1977 she launched her thirty-year career as a congressional constituent services professional, providing caring and extremely effective advocacy with state and federal agencies for individual Coloradans in the offices of Senator Gary Hart, Representative David Skaggs and Representative Mark Udall, and State Treasurer Gail Schoettler. In honor of her 70th birthday, then Rep. Udall formally recognized Ms. Healy’s years of service on the floor of the Congress and in the Congressional Record of January 29, 2002. He stated: “Her knowledge and expertise has served my office well—but more importantly, it has helped countless numbers of people over the years. It is estimated that over the course of her career, she directly helped resolve over 20,000 cases on an impressive array of issues.” Ms. Healy further served our community through her passionate and dedicated tenure on the Board of North Metro Community Services, providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Adams County. She served as a Consumer Parent Representative, for son Fred, and Vice Chair of the board, concluding 30 years’ service in 2012.Jane was an adventurer! As newlyweds in 1957 she and Fred struck out from their Boston and Cape Cod roots for Boulder CO where her life as a proud Coloradan began. Whether on a road trip in the Rockies with her kids, exploring the Southwest with friends or her sisters, returning to her favorite beaches on Cape Cod, discovering her heritage on trips to Ireland with brother Seamus, building driftwood forts on the Oregon coast, or being dazzled by the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, she threw herself fully into the adventure and her delight was genuine and infectious.Jane was an artist! A painter, poet, photographer, illustrator, calligrapher, seamstress and creator of spectacular Halloween costumes and birthday cakes.She loved her family - each one individually, and as the big, funny, complicated, and loving brood for whom she was The Matriarch. She loved KVOD and Irish music, her LaRue garden, Willie Nelson and Paul Newman, jewel tones and good labels, musicals and milkshakes, Mary’s Manhattan’s, dinner and a bookstore, and hot fudge sundaes. These final words are her own: “I have been blessed with a good life. I wish for my family and friends to celebrate my life and to carry on for me with kindness and love."

Friends & Family