Obituary of Gerard M. Healey

Gerard M. Healey, age 81 of Bridgeport, beloved husband of the late Mary Meule Healey, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, September 6, 2017. Born on August 5, 1936 in Queens, N.Y., he was the son of the late James Healey and Elizabeth "Lil" Phelan Healey. Gerard served with pride and honor as a third class seaman on the USS Fiske (DD-842) from 1954-1958. He lived in Queens, NY for 56 years, and retired to Florida in 1992 where he and Mary lived for 22 years. They moved to Connecticut in 2014 to be closer to their family. Gerard was a 3rd Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus for over 45 years and a member of The American Legion for 19 years.Before his retirement, he was a tractor trailer driver at UPS with over 32 years of service, a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and a shop steward with Local 804. Above all, his family was everything to him. He was a caring and loving husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, grandfather, and uncle who will be truly missed. Gerard is survived by two loving children, Patricia Raftery and her husband William of Fairfield and James Healey and his wife Diane of Madison; four grandchildren, Sean and Liam Raftery and Daniel and Michael Healey; a sister, Lillian MacDonald of Queensbury, NY; three brothers-in-laws, Frank Palladino, Michael Meule and his wife Connie, and Anthony Meule and his wife Janet; and a sister-in-law, Joan Viola; as well as 35 loving nieces and nephews. In addition to his beloved wife Mary of 56 years, he is predeceased by five siblings, James Healey, Eileen Salvo, Joan Palladino, Margaret Humphreys, and Jack Healey. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. directly in St. Stephen Church, 6948 Main St., Trumbull. Interment with full military honors will follow in Long Island National Cemetery, 2040 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale, NY. Friends may greet the family on Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Parkinson Research Foundation, Inc. at parkinsonhope.org, or at 5969 Cattleridge Blvd Suite 100 Sarasota, FL 34232 or to the Disabled Veterans of America at dav.org.