Patricia Marie Healy

March 12, 1935 - March 25, 2023

Faith, family, friends + a cold Pepsi = the keys to a life well lived!

Patricia Marie Healy was as genuine, sincere and authentic as they come. She was born on March 12, 1935 in The Bronx, New York to Loughlin and Marguerite Ward. She attended St. Helena's school through 12th grade. Thereafter, she went to work at IBM (Manhattan) for several years until she married a Marine Corp officer named Martin John Healy in 1957. The day after their wedding, the couple departed on their honeymoon. They drove the southern route to California and settled near Martin's sister (Patricia Richardson, n‚e Healy) and her family in San Pedro (Los Angeles). Martin & Patricia went on to become proud parents of 7 sons who were all born at St. Mary's Hospital in Long Beach. In 1967, the family moved to Santa Ana where Patricia resided until her passing on March 25, 2023. She is survived by her 7 sons Martin (Kendra), Michael (Lisa), Chris, Matthew (Chrissy), John (Rossana), Brian (Sonja), Danny (Samantha), as well as her 6 daughter's-in-law, 17 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Patricia is rejoicing in heaven with her husband (Martin John Healy), all of her siblings (Nancy, Carol, James, Marguerite "Peggy") and parents (Loughlin & Marguerite). After raising her family, Patricia went to work for McDonnell Douglas (then Boeing) in Long Beach for 20 years. She then went to work for her son, Mike, at Seamount Financial Group (Orange, CA) for 17 years. Through it all, she remained a dedicated and loving mom who was the glue and Matriarch of her family. Pat's New York roots were central to her character. As the saying goes; "You can take the girl out of New York but you can't take New York out of the girl!" Pat loved New York and cherished her time growing up there. In fact, her accent remained even after 60+ years of living in CA. She fondly recounted the hustle & bustle, the diversity, the sense of community, the walking, the fashion, the cast of neighborhood characters and of course, the food. No slice of pizza or bagel in any part of the world could ever compare to that of New York. And yes it was because of the water. Pat absolutely loved her boys! She was the definition of a true "boys" Mom to her 7 sons. She was also a "second mom" to countless of other Orange County teenage boys throughout the 70's and 80's needing guidance, support, periodic "tough love", and someone to believe in them. The Healy home became a destination for those seeking camaraderie and athletic competition. The basketball and football games in the front yard/street were endless as were/are the countless friendships forged from those experiences. Similar to the Bronx way of life, there was always lots of lively activity at home on Buffalo Lane. "Sparky" (Pat's nickname) loved every minute of it! Pat exemplified what it meant to serve others. She loved her neighbors (best neighbors ever!!) and always had an extra plate of food for anyone that happened to stop by. She never missed the opportunity to provide a helping hand for those down on their luck or who were less fortunate. Although tough as nails, Pat had a heart of compassion and love for others, especially those going through difficult times. She was also a dog lover and her dogs loved her. She was selfless in all she did! No one loved traditions more than Pat. Her Thanksgiving gatherings were legendary! A true feast for all to enjoy! For St. Paddy's Day, Pat's Irish soda bread was Heaven on Earth. Her "Monday Night Chicken" dinner tradition was a 30 + year classic. Attending 4 pm mass on Sat. evenings was etched in stone. Second to none, was Pat's tradition of wearing her special blue cardigan. Rain or shine, morning or night she loved wearing it. It fit her just right! Most meaningful may have been her tradition of visiting with friends at the family dining table over a cold glass of Pepsi. Pat learned to love sports, whether she wanted to or not! Once her boys became of age, sporting events filled the calendar spanning three decades! Whether it was at North-East Santa Ana Little League (NESALL) baseball fields, Tustin Junior All American Football (TJAAF) fields, Foothill High School football games, or USD/Fullerton/Saddleback/SSU College football games, Pat & Martin John were there. True to character, Pat & MJ took on active volunteer roles for the various teams/organizations. Through these experiences, Pat & MJ were blessed to meet and establish many wonderful, lifelong friendships. When it came to big-time college football however, Pat rooted for one team: The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame! To root for the other team was a Cardinal Sin in her eyes and she would let you know it! Pat stayed true to her traditional beliefs throughout her entire life. She lived out her Catholic faith. She was 100% devoted to her family and was a valued and trusted friend. Pat loved the LORD and was a faithful servant. She was a blessing to all who knew her. Pat leaves behind a rich & meaningful legacy filled with a lifetime of brilliant memories for her family and friends to cherish. We love you Mom always and forever! Rest in Peace. Your Boys An Irish saying: "A Mother holds her children's hands for a little while... their hearts forever." A memorial service will be held for Patricia on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 10:00am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orange, California. A reception will follow. Thank you for being a part of Patricia's life! Brown Colonial Mortuary, Santa Ana, (714) 542-3949