HEALY
November 9, 1946 – December 22, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear loving mother, EVELYN ALMA “BABSIE” HEALY. She passed surrounded by her family peacefully in the early morning of December 22, 2021 at the age of 75 years.
Evelyn “Babsie” is survived by her husband Leslie Healy of 57 years. Her children Ann, Brenda, Holly, Joe and Amber. Her grandchildren Mandy, Davie, Justin, William “Cody”, Raquel and little Valentina. Her great-grandchildren, Isaac, Kashtin, Jaylene, Katerina, Halo, Stormy, Hunter, Lincoln and Zayden. Her siblings, Lena Russell, Barbara Heavyshields, Faye Heavyshields, Sharon Heavyshields, Jordan Heavyshields and Steven Heavyshields. Her adopted brother Mike Fox. Evelyn is also survived by her special adopted children, Maria Russell, Susan and Tim Heavyshields, Al and Cher Collar, JR Fox, Merlin and Gina Calling Last, Fran Devine, Tracy Big Head and Marlene Sweetgrass. Her sister-in-Law Nora Eagle Bear, Nora Healy and brother-in-law Wilfred Soop. And also, numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved and adored.
Evelyn was pre-deceased by her parents, Eddie and Adelaide Heavyshields, her mother and father-in-law David and Gwen Healy. Her siblings Herman “Mousie”, Ed Jr., Gordon, John, Mary “Lulu”, Baby Teresa and baby boy who passed in infancy. Her brother-in-laws Richard Healy, Merle Healy, Fred Healy, David Healy, Alphonse Eagle Bear, Oliver Ward, Lyman Tail feathers and James Russell. Sister-in-laws Dorothy Ward, Shirley Healy, Geraldine Soop and Marion Heavyshields. Her special sister Bernadette Fox. Also, many family members who have passed on before her.
Evelyn “Babsie”, was one of 12 children born into the Heavyshields family. Growing up, she was one of 6 daughters and had 6 brothers of whom she loved dearly. Along with her parents growing up, each sibling had contributed something unique to the woman she would become. She had a soft spot in her brother Gordon whom she called her “protector” and her baby brother John, who taught her how to be a mother babysitting early on in life. At the age of 6, it was her turn to attend St. Mary’s residential school where she resided for much of her youth. This is where she gained some of the life skills she needed. Sewing was one of the skills she loved and continued on with. She was able to be with her siblings, cousins and made lifelong friends along the way. The highlight of her experience was becoming valedictorian of her 9th grade class.
During her last year of school, she met the love of her life at a horse race. They went on to be married on May 16, 1964. During their 57 loving years of marriage, they would welcome 5 children. 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
After getting married, Evelyn then decided on a career in nursing. She started nursing school in 1965 and trained to become a certified LPN. She started her nursing career thereafter at the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta in 1968 and then onto the Blood Indian Hospital where she worked until 1994. During her career, she would develop a love of caring for her people, especially a soft spot for seniors where she would pay extra attention to reading stories when she had extra time or breaks. The time and attention she would give to feed and nurture her patients was a gift given to her that made her unique.
Being a wife and mother was her greatest accomplishment. The special care and attention she took as a wife into ensuring her husband Leslie was well prepared during his time in leadership, to working the late nights to ensuring her family had what they needed when they started out, Supporting her children through life paths and teaching them that no matter what, love of family is what is most important. And when it came to her grandchildren, did she ever love being a grandma. She never forgot a birthday. Always wrote loving birthday messages and gave thoughtful gifts to family and friends. And most importantly Christmas, as it was her favorite time of year. She taught her family the gift of giving back to the community. Every year, Evelyn, Leslie and her children would collect items for Christmas hampers with gifts and Christmas dinner and surprise families who needed it at that time. That was what Christmas to her was about. Family, love and friendship.
Family and friendship is the reason she had a wonderful life. Always with husband Leslie, surrounded by her daughters, cruising with her sisters or while driving her big blue truck. She always managed to bump into somebody and took the time for a quick visit. It was during those quick visits, she always left the person laughing, smiling and feeling good about themselves. She loved to make friends no matter where she went, she would strike up a conversation with a stranger and leave them with a gentle smile. Many of those times were felt during her years managing the kitchen at Morris Crow’s sundance and then joining the circle with Leslie as a sun dancer with her daughters Holly and Amber. Her spiritual journey also included her catholic faith and family making her cursillo with her brothers and sisters in faith. With love of her catholic faith, included her joy of taking care of the church cleaning with her husband Les, her sister Barbara and close friends. She always looked forward to seeing her siblings, nieces and nephews during Kainaiwa Indian days laughing and visiting into the late summer nights. The annual Heavyshields women’s retreats and barbeques is where you could hear her laughter and see her ear to ear grin. Showing nieces and nephews support by cooking and feasting with family at the Belly Buttes Sundance gatherings.
And last but not least, her love of travelling. Throughout her life she was able to visit many beautiful places, meet many people and see different cultures and tribes. Many of her highlighted trips was that of being able to meet with Queen of England in 1980, Disneyland with Amber and Mandy in 1992, attending the Marian Conference with Bernadette Fox in the 90’s, Family trip to Rosarito beach Mexico in 1994, Nogales, Mexico with Leslie in 1995, the anniversary trip with Leslie to Graceland in the 1996, annual trips to the health mines in Boulder, Montana and the many annual road trips to Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve that included many of her friends near and dear to her. Each and every one of these trips, no doubt did she live the best moments of her life during these times.
On behalf of her husband and children, we thank those of you who made her life happy and most fulfilling.
A Wake Service will be held on Thursday, January 6 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm at White Calf Hall, Stand Off.
The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 7 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve.
Interment in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Blood Reserve.
November 9, 1946 – December 22, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear loving mother, EVELYN ALMA “BABSIE” HEALY. She passed surrounded by her family peacefully in the early morning of December 22, 2021 at the age of 75 years.
Evelyn “Babsie” is survived by her husband Leslie Healy of 57 years. Her children Ann, Brenda, Holly, Joe and Amber. Her grandchildren Mandy, Davie, Justin, William “Cody”, Raquel and little Valentina. Her great-grandchildren, Isaac, Kashtin, Jaylene, Katerina, Halo, Stormy, Hunter, Lincoln and Zayden. Her siblings, Lena Russell, Barbara Heavyshields, Faye Heavyshields, Sharon Heavyshields, Jordan Heavyshields and Steven Heavyshields. Her adopted brother Mike Fox. Evelyn is also survived by her special adopted children, Maria Russell, Susan and Tim Heavyshields, Al and Cher Collar, JR Fox, Merlin and Gina Calling Last, Fran Devine, Tracy Big Head and Marlene Sweetgrass. Her sister-in-Law Nora Eagle Bear, Nora Healy and brother-in-law Wilfred Soop. And also, numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved and adored.
Evelyn was pre-deceased by her parents, Eddie and Adelaide Heavyshields, her mother and father-in-law David and Gwen Healy. Her siblings Herman “Mousie”, Ed Jr., Gordon, John, Mary “Lulu”, Baby Teresa and baby boy who passed in infancy. Her brother-in-laws Richard Healy, Merle Healy, Fred Healy, David Healy, Alphonse Eagle Bear, Oliver Ward, Lyman Tail feathers and James Russell. Sister-in-laws Dorothy Ward, Shirley Healy, Geraldine Soop and Marion Heavyshields. Her special sister Bernadette Fox. Also, many family members who have passed on before her.
Evelyn “Babsie”, was one of 12 children born into the Heavyshields family. Growing up, she was one of 6 daughters and had 6 brothers of whom she loved dearly. Along with her parents growing up, each sibling had contributed something unique to the woman she would become. She had a soft spot in her brother Gordon whom she called her “protector” and her baby brother John, who taught her how to be a mother babysitting early on in life. At the age of 6, it was her turn to attend St. Mary’s residential school where she resided for much of her youth. This is where she gained some of the life skills she needed. Sewing was one of the skills she loved and continued on with. She was able to be with her siblings, cousins and made lifelong friends along the way. The highlight of her experience was becoming valedictorian of her 9th grade class.
During her last year of school, she met the love of her life at a horse race. They went on to be married on May 16, 1964. During their 57 loving years of marriage, they would welcome 5 children. 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
After getting married, Evelyn then decided on a career in nursing. She started nursing school in 1965 and trained to become a certified LPN. She started her nursing career thereafter at the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta in 1968 and then onto the Blood Indian Hospital where she worked until 1994. During her career, she would develop a love of caring for her people, especially a soft spot for seniors where she would pay extra attention to reading stories when she had extra time or breaks. The time and attention she would give to feed and nurture her patients was a gift given to her that made her unique.
Being a wife and mother was her greatest accomplishment. The special care and attention she took as a wife into ensuring her husband Leslie was well prepared during his time in leadership, to working the late nights to ensuring her family had what they needed when they started out, Supporting her children through life paths and teaching them that no matter what, love of family is what is most important. And when it came to her grandchildren, did she ever love being a grandma. She never forgot a birthday. Always wrote loving birthday messages and gave thoughtful gifts to family and friends. And most importantly Christmas, as it was her favorite time of year. She taught her family the gift of giving back to the community. Every year, Evelyn, Leslie and her children would collect items for Christmas hampers with gifts and Christmas dinner and surprise families who needed it at that time. That was what Christmas to her was about. Family, love and friendship.
Family and friendship is the reason she had a wonderful life. Always with husband Leslie, surrounded by her daughters, cruising with her sisters or while driving her big blue truck. She always managed to bump into somebody and took the time for a quick visit. It was during those quick visits, she always left the person laughing, smiling and feeling good about themselves. She loved to make friends no matter where she went, she would strike up a conversation with a stranger and leave them with a gentle smile. Many of those times were felt during her years managing the kitchen at Morris Crow’s sundance and then joining the circle with Leslie as a sun dancer with her daughters Holly and Amber. Her spiritual journey also included her catholic faith and family making her cursillo with her brothers and sisters in faith. With love of her catholic faith, included her joy of taking care of the church cleaning with her husband Les, her sister Barbara and close friends. She always looked forward to seeing her siblings, nieces and nephews during Kainaiwa Indian days laughing and visiting into the late summer nights. The annual Heavyshields women’s retreats and barbeques is where you could hear her laughter and see her ear to ear grin. Showing nieces and nephews support by cooking and feasting with family at the Belly Buttes Sundance gatherings.
And last but not least, her love of travelling. Throughout her life she was able to visit many beautiful places, meet many people and see different cultures and tribes. Many of her highlighted trips was that of being able to meet with Queen of England in 1980, Disneyland with Amber and Mandy in 1992, attending the Marian Conference with Bernadette Fox in the 90’s, Family trip to Rosarito beach Mexico in 1994, Nogales, Mexico with Leslie in 1995, the anniversary trip with Leslie to Graceland in the 1996, annual trips to the health mines in Boulder, Montana and the many annual road trips to Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve that included many of her friends near and dear to her. Each and every one of these trips, no doubt did she live the best moments of her life during these times.
On behalf of her husband and children, we thank those of you who made her life happy and most fulfilling.
A Wake Service will be held on Thursday, January 6 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm at White Calf Hall, Stand Off.
The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 7 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve.
Interment in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Blood Reserve.