Obituary of Elizabeth Heady

Elizabeth Theresa Heady died peacefully on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 surrounded by her loving husband and daughters at home on Lake Anawanda in Callicoon Center. She was 78. The daughter of Henry and Helen Widmer, Betty grew up in Queens, NY, and graduated Newtown High School in 1949. Her favorite childhood memories included summer vacations with the Kelly family in Allaben, NY, where they swam in the creek, hiked in the woods, and spent evenings on the front porch. She met her devoted husband Walter in 1953 while on summer vacation with friends at Breezy Knoll Acres in Greene County, NY. Betty and Walter have been happily married since 1956 and have three daughters and six grandchildren. Before retiring in 1993, Betty worked at Woodcrest Center Nursing Home in New Milford, NJ. Betty lived in Northvale, NJ, with Walter and their family for 35 years, and in 1974 they started spending summers at their cabin on Lake Anawanda. In 1994, Betty and Walter followed their retirement dream and moved permanently to "The Lake," where Betty pursued her love of fishing, swimming, gardening, and weekend yard sales. Throughout her life, Betty enjoyed spending time outdoors and gathering with family and friends, and she never missed a chance to dance the Lindy with Walter or inspire everyone to join together in song. Betty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, cousin, and friend, and she knew how important it was to stop and smell the flowers, listen to the chickadees, and gaze at the stars. Her bright eyes, warm smile, and playful spirit will be missed by all. Betty is survived by her husband of 54 years, Walter Heady; three daughters: Patricia Haelen and her husband Terry Haelen of Otisville, NY, Susan Gallagher and her husband Tom Gallagher of Old Tappan, NJ, and Laura Heady of Gardiner, NY; six grandchildren: Caden Gallagher, Brady Gallagher, Anabelle Haelen, Emily Haelen, Ashley Haelen, and Jacob Haelen; and many loving cousins. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Saint Aloysius Church, 30 Church Road, Livingston Manor, NY. A funeral mass will be held immediately afterwards at St. Aloysius at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery, Route 28 in Shandaken, NY. The Heady Family would like to thank the nurses of Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc., for their care, compassion, and support. Memorial contributions in Betty's name can be sent to Hospice, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550. Arrangements are under the direction of Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, for further information please call 845-4333 or visit our website at www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.