Patricia Healy

Sarah Patricia “Pat” Healy, 96, was born on August 11, 1924 to Arthur and Elizabeth (Brosnahan) Eggers. The oldest of 10 children, Pat attended country school, was a 4-H member and the 4-H County Health Girl for Crawford County. Following graduation from Denison High School, Pat earned her teaching certificate at Loras College. She taught in rural Crawford County schools until her marriage to William James Healy, Jr. on January 29, 1951. The couple farmed near the Boyer area and were blessed with nine children. Pat was a member of St. Ann’s parish and the Helping Neighbors Club.

Throughout her life, Pat remained an educator at heart. Many Healy youngsters learned to read with her dog-eared copy of The Night Before Christmas. Her afternoon polka around the kitchen often included a quick dance lesson for whomever joined her dinner table. In her later years, Pat channeled her passion for reading and education by working in the library for Ar-We-Va Community Schools.

Pat understood food connects people. Even when times were lean, her table was open to all. She showed love to family and friends through home-cooked meals, and was well known for her homemade bread. A resourceful gardener, Pat’s root cellar and table were always full of her home-grown vegetables, preserves, applesauce and occasionally a very potent dandelion wine, which was enjoyed (sparingly) by several generations of her family.

Pat was the epitome of the greatest generation. Integrity, work ethic, faith and humility were taught by example. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the legacy in which she instilled her values . Family took precedent before material needs, and each child knew how much she loved them. Next to home, Grandma Pat’s house was everyone’s favorite place to be. The lessons and adventures were endless as she fostered a nurturing environment to learn and grow.

Pat died on September 11, 2020 at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William “Bill” Healy, Jr. on March 2, 2003; grandson, Patrick Healy; great-granddaughter, Coraline Harding; son-in-law, Mark Cook; twin sister, Phyllis Eggers; sisters, Norma Truitt, Betty Truitt, Barb Kohnekamp, Regina Furne; brothers, Don, William, Robert, and Frank Eggers. She is survived by her children, Raymond (Judy) Healy of Milan, Missouri, Roger Healy of Castana, Richard Healy of Vail, Gerald Healy of Boyer, Leo (Brenda) Healy of Milan, Catherine Cook (Rick Vetter) of Wall Lake, Greg Healy of Deloit, Connie Wulf of Jacksonville, Florida, John (Monica) Healy of Lake View; 28 grandchildren; 36+ great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Betty Eggers of Denison and Beverly Eggers of Carmichael, California; brothers-in-law, Joe White of Westside and Vernon Kohnekamp of Dow City; and many other relatives and friends.