Joan Healy

1941 - 2021

Joan Marie Healy
August 11, 1941 - November 7, 2021
Joan Marie Healy (née Kerrisk) was born in Ranalough, Currow, County Kerry, Ireland, the 3rd child of the late Hanna and Tady Kerrisk. She passed away peacefully in Petaluma, with family by her side, on November 7, after a courageous battle with cancer.


Joan attended Currow National School where she fondly recalled her teacher, Mrs. Egan as one who knew and could teach anything, from sums to sewing. The Tech in Castleisland was her next stop. After the death of her parents in 1958 and 1959 respectively, and a move to Gortshanafa, at the age of 18, Joan found herself the head of a household of 7 younger siblings from 4 to 16 years of age. With help from 2 older siblings already in the states, this was her charge until she emigrated to New York in 1960 and then to San Francisco in 1962. There, in 1963, she married Sean Healy and raised four sons, Sean, Timmy, Neil, and Kevin in Holy Name Parish.


She was a tireless volunteer and organizer in the SF Irish and Holy Name Parish Community where she was active in yard duty, the women's club, festivals, really, anything that was asked of her. She was a proud flag bearer in the United Irish Societies St. Patrick's Day Parade and she was a well known attendee at all the games which her sons played, supporting their athletic prowess with fiery enthusiasm. When her children were grown she became the athlete, competing in leagues for bowling, kickball, and both co-ed and women's softball. She was an avid supporter of the SF Giants and was at Candlestick Park the night of the 1989 SF earthquake.


For 19 years Joan worked for the Carpenters Trust Fund, where lunch periods were a good reason for a card game. Retiring from there she bought and operated Peter's Travel on Taraval Street, a job she truly loved; exploring local and foreign places. When she moved to Petaluma in 2000, she would organize bus trips to little-known but beautiful and interesting locales in California (that not coincidentally usually included an overnight stay at a casino). Many Sunday afternoons were spent at the Orpheum or ACT with friends; many summer vacations were spent in Whispering Pines.


Joan had an exceptional natural ability with people both young and old, and she was unwavering in her dedication to her 10 grandchildren, which was reciprocated during her illness when you would find one, if not more, of them in her kitchen every afternoon. She took them on trips to the beach, to the snow, to the park, to the zoo; there were board games, card games, hikes, lunches, dropping off & picking up from school. There was always undivided attention as she selflessly devoted her time to their needs or concerns above her own and found it matched in return with much love and appreciation.


She was the adored and doting grandmother of Hawley, Josh, Isabella, Siobhán, Amanda, Brendan, Katie, Paris, Jack T., and Jack C. Healy.


She is survived by her husband, Sean, and her four sons, Sean (Patty), Tim (Karen), Neil (Maria-Elena) and Kevin (Patti), her siblings Mary Kenneally (Dave), Helen Leane (Sonny d.), Ann Dunne (Tom), Joe (Marian), Betty McElligott (Danny), Jerry, and Bridget West (Don). She is also survived by sisters-in-law Lena & Kathleen Kerrisk, cherished friends Noreen McEllistrim and Sheila McCarthy, and many nieces and nephews both here and abroad.

She is predeceased by her parents, Tady & Hanna, her brothers Sean and Eugie, and her cherished friend Dora Quirke.


Friends may visit Tuesday, Nov. 16th from 6pm-7pm at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 1555 39th Ave. San Francisco where a Vigil will begin at 7pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday Nov. 17th at Holy Name of Jesus at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joan's memory to the San Francisco Junior Giants or the Yosemite Conservancy @yosemite.org