DOROTHY HEALY

DOROTHY KIELY HEALY Dorothy Isabella Kiely Healy passed away at home in Seattle on March 6, 2011 in the loving company of her family. She was born in Richmond, CA to John Roach Kiely and Isabella MacLean Kiely. With her family, Dorothy moved to Tacoma, WA as a girl. She attended St. Patrick's Elementary School and Aquinas Academy High School, from which she graduated as valedictorian at age 16. As this was in the middle of the Great Depression and there was no money for college, she moved to Olympia, WA, where she worked at the State Legislature and later with the State Tax Commission while living with her sister Mary and several friends. She later moved to Washington, D.C., to work for Congressman John Coffee, a member of the Washington State delegation. She enjoyed the adventure of living in the center of the nation's politics and the occasional travel to New York to dance and sample its culture and sophistication. She took classes at George Washington University at night. She married in 1943 and moved to Seattle, where she worked for the Commander of the Seattle Sand Point Naval Air Station and was the only woman on staff. She later moved to Tacoma, where she raised three children and brought her energy and organizational skills to her volunteer work. She was married for 31 years. She spent many years caring for both of her parents. Her father lived to the age of 85, and her mother to 95. She split most of the last 20 years of her life living in Palm Desert, CA, Tacoma, and Seattle. For the last six years, she shared a home in Seattle with her daughter and son-in-law, Helen and Neil Modie. Welcoming, well-read, stylish and quick-witted to the end, she loved bridge, golf, dancing, reading, music of all kinds, and travel. She was a beautiful pianist who loved to play New Orleans jazz. A devoted Catholic, Dorothy touched many lives with her compassion and sensitivity. She had a joie de vivre that earned her many friends and even more admirers. She liked to learn something new each day. An avid traveler whose first trips included China, Russia, Turkey and Greece in the 1970s, she loved seeing new sights and learning about cultures. For most of her life she always had energy for a new adventure. She speed-walked the 12k Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco when she was 73, placing first in her age group, and hit a hole in one on the golf course when she was 83. She was preceded in death by her four siblings, John Kiely, Paul Kiely, Mary Kiely Weber and Sister Margaret Kiely, O.P. She is survived by her three children, Helen Modie, Cecilia Herbert and Jim Healy, their spouses and five grandchildren. She was a magnificent mother and friend, doting aunt, proud grandmother and caring daughter and sister. She will be sorely missed. The funeral and burial in Tacoma will be private and a memorial celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to Providence Hospice of Seattle, 888-782-4445, www2.providence.org/kingcounty . Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com . Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.