This month we are featuring the Sanctuary Rose window of St. Catherine’s Church. The Sanctuary Window was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. John A Healy. This window was once over the front door of the church in 1935 and then became part of the church’s vestibule in the 2000 major church renovation.
John A. Healy (1855-1942), was one of this town’s most prominent businessmen, and the oldest resident and voter of the town, he lived at Second street, Graniteville. He was the son of James and Bridget (Norton) Healy and was born in Canada, June 20, 1855.
Mr. Healy came to this town over 150 years ago and received his education in the town schools. He entered employment at the Abbot Worsted Co. and later the Atwood farm. Sixty years ago, Mr. Healy started the coal, wood and livery stable business which has grown steadily through the years into one of the largest business organizations of the town.
In 1905, he established the firm of J. A. Healy’s Sons, funeral directors and in 1925 incorporated the Healy Coal & Coke Co. He was town constable for 20 years and inspector of animals from 1924 to 1926. Mr. Healy was the first captain of the A. R. Choate Hose Co. 2 of Graniteville, holding this office for 15 years. He had also been a forest fire warden.
He was an attendant of St. Catherine’s church, Graniteville, where he served as sexton for 32 years and also the founder and first chief ranger of Westford Court 170, Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, and the founder and first chief ranger of Court Graniteville, 179, American Order of Foresters.
Funeral – John A. Healy
The funeral of John A. Healy, a well-known businessman and resident of Graniteville, took place Saturday at 8 o’clock from his home on Second street, Graniteville. At 9 o’clock a solemn high funeral mass was celebrated in St. Catherine’s church by Rev. Garrett Condon, S.T.L., pastor, assisted by Rev. Bernard J. O’Rourke of St. John’s church of North Chelmsford as deacon and Rev. George Chaput, as sub deacon. Seated within the sanctuary were Rev. Thomas O’Toole, pastor of St. John’s church of North Chelmsford and Rev. Alfred Mullin of Somerville. The choir, under the direction of Miss Mary Hanley, sang the Gregorian mass, the solos of the mass being sustained by Miss Rebecca Leduc and Mrs. John Connolly. The organist was Miss Hanley.
Present at the mass was a delegation from the Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters comprising Mrs. Mary Payne, Miss Mary Harrington, Regina M. Edwards, Charles E. Dudevoir, Albert R. Wall, John E. Connolly; representing the fire department were Chief Edmund D. Rogers, Asst. Chief Harold Wright, Capt. Reginald Blowey, Angus McDonald, Raymond Cantara, Harold Healy, Thomas Curley, Henry Payne, Arthur Desrosiers and Gerald Defoe. Representing the A. W. Vinal post 313, American Legion of North Chelmsford was Cmdr. Thomas J. Kerrigan. Present in the congregation were State Rep. John Valentine, Edward M. Abbot, president of the Abbot Worsted Co., Hugh Leith and William R. Taylor, also of the Abbot Worsted Co., P. Henry Harrington, Mrs. David L. Greig, Mr. John Myles of the National Casket Co. and Mr. Albert Scholls of the Essex Casket Co. Acting as bearers were Robert B. and James L. Healy, grandsons, and John A., Henry J., Philip H. and Richard H. Healy, nephews.
He is survived by five sons, J. Austin Healy, superintendent of town roads; Fred S. Healy, and Arthur L. Healy, secretary of the board of selectmen, all of Graniteville; James B. Healy of Lowell and Edward T. Healy of North Chelmsford; a sister, Miss Mary Ann Healy of Graniteville and seven grandchildren.
Burial took place in the family lot in St. Catherine’s cemetery, Graniteville, where the committal prayers were read by Rev. Fr. Condon.
Sources
Lowell Sun and Citizen-Leader, Thurs., Feb. 19, 1942, p. 3.
Lowell Sun and Citizen-Leader, Lowell, Mass., Monday, February 23, 1942, p. 3.
Mr. and Mrs. John Healy Memorial Windows of Westford, compiled by Linda Greene