Jean Ann Healy

Jean Ann Healy, age 65, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at the New England Homes for the Deaf in Danvers, MA, with her family by her side. She was born in Springfield, MA on September 27, 1955 to Joseph and Ann Dineen Healy. Jean is a 1973 graduate of Cathedral High School and earned a Bachelors and Masters degree with honors from Springfield College in social work and rehabilitation counseling. Jean dedicated her life to the DeafBlind community. She most recently worked for DEAF Inc in Boston as the Assistant Director for the DeafBlind Community Access Network program (DBCAN). In her 13 years as the Assistant Director of DBCAN, Jean worked tirelessly to oversee the Provider program to empower and sustain the independence of DeafBlind individuals throughout Massachusetts. She led training sessions, supported Providers to ensure quality services, coordinated interpreters, and was instrumental in developing and growing the Provider program. She retired from DEAF Inc in December 2020. Jean’s career took her from Springfield to Boston and across the country to Seattle, eventually returning to the Boston area for work and settling in Gloucester, where she lived the past 13 years. She loved living by the water and found a nice spot to retire in Danvers right on the harbor. Jean is an inspirational soul with a fierce independence that never let anything slow her down. She lived life to the fullest, traveling abroad to places like Italy, Ireland, Greece, and the US’s far reaches - Hawaii and Alaska. Jean is a devoted daughter, sister, niece, aunt, and friend. She cherished her time with family and friends, especially if it involved a trip to Starbucks. Jean will be deeply missed by her friends, family and all who knew her. Jean joins her father, Joseph J. Healy and brother, Joseph P. Healy, in heaven. She is survived by her mother, Ann Dineen Healy, her brother Stephen Healy, her two sisters Nancy Healy Wiegand and JoAnn Healy, her two nieces (Norah and Caelinn), a nephew (Finbar) and brothers-in-law, David Wiegand and John Ford. As Jean wished, a memorial service will be held in the Boston area later in the year so that all of her many friends and family can celebrate her life together. The family would like to express our thanks to the wonderful staff at the New England Homes for the Deaf for Jean's excellent care over the past few months. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to the Deafblind Community Access Network (DBCAN) at DEAF Inc. (https://www.deafinconline.org/donate) and the DeafBlind Contact Center (DBCC) (https://www.deafblindcontactcenter.org/donate) in Allston.