Deacon James Healy, who was ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Francis A. Quinn on June 7, 1981, died on February 27 with his family by his side. He was 89.
Visitation will be held on Monday, March 14 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Anthony Parish, located at 660 Florin Road in Sacramento. The vigil service will begin at 5 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 15 at 11 a.m., also at St. Anthony Parish. The rite of committal will be at St. Mary Cemetery at 4 p.m. the same day.
Deacon Healy and his wife, Joan, and their daughters, Margaret and Michelle, were founding members of St. Anthony Parish. He ministered there for 30 years and found great joy in bringing holy Communion to the sick and homebound. He baptized close to 500 children, and also led the parish marriage preparation team for many years, in addition to other diaconal responsibilities. He retired from active ministry at the age of 78. He was then called upon to assist at St. Joseph Parish, Clarksburg, which he happily did for many more years.
Deacon Healy was born in San Francisco on February 18, 1933, the first twin boy of Dolores (O’Donnell) and James Bernard Healy. He spent his youth living primarily in San Francisco and Sacramento and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco. He attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga, but received his BA, Teaching Credential, and MA from San Francisco State. He held teaching and vice principal positions at the elementary school level in San Francisco. He was asked to be the first legislative representative for the San Francisco Unified School District, a position that led him to living part time in Sacramento. During this time period he met Joan Elissamburu, a fellow SFUSD teacher, and they were married in August 1970 in San Francisco. They chose to make Sacramento their home. When Jim left legislative work, he became principal of Galt Middle School and then completed his career as principal of All Hallows Catholic School in Sacramento.
For several decades Deacon Healy was a member of the board of directors of Trust Funds Incorporated, a private Catholic foundation, and served as president from 1995-2021. He loved to travel, and he and Joan enjoyed numerous trips, some on their own and many with family and friends. His family is forever grateful to the wonderful people of Mercy McMahon Terrace, Deacon Healy’s home since October 2021. His final months were spent in the company of new friends who quickly became good friends, and loving and compassionate staff who truly cared for him with dignity.
Deacon Healy’s gentle kindness and loving spirit will be deeply missed, but his legacy will live on through his cherished daughters Margaret Vibandor (Boyet) and Michelle Mouser (Dustin); and his twin grandsons, Owen Healy Mouser and Levi James Mouser – “the light of his life.” He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Elaine Healy, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his dear wife, Joan, in 2019, and his twin brother, Ed, just two weeks prior to his own passing.
Remembrances may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society – St. Anthony Parish Conference (660 Florin Road, Sacramento, CA 95831). Arrangements entrusted to W.F. Gormley and Sons.