Obituary of Edythe C. Heelan

Edythe Combs Heelan of Manchester, CT passed away on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, having just celebrated her 95th birthday with her children and grandchildren. She was born in Yonkers, NY, the last surviving child of 5 sisters and 5 brothers, born to Harry P. Combs Sr. and Genevieve Ward Combs (née Tompkins). She was raised in Bridgewater, CT and Mt. Vernon, NY, graduating from AB Davis High School in 1941, where she met her late husband of 67 years, Robert Heelan. After marriage they raised their family in Pelham, NY, where they lived for almost 50 years. After retirement Robert and Edythe were snowbirds, dividing their time between Port St. Lucie, FL & Pelham and later Carmel, NY and finally Manchester, CT. 

Edythe is survived by her children: daughters Karen Cotter Fluegel and Michelle Heelan, son Brian P. Heelan, and their spouses Robert Fluegel and Debbie Heelan.

“The Duchess” was a true lady. She was a great beauty, known for her gentile, graceful, aristocratic ways and classic good taste. Family was always her priority and she remained closely knit to her brothers and sisters throughout their lives.

Mema, aka Ol Granny devoted her life to providing a warm, loving, supportive home for her husband, children and grandchildren. She will be sorely missed and always remembered (including her unlikely Tetris addiction with her 1980’s Game Boy!) with great love by her grandchildren: Thomas Cotter & his wife Melanie, Brian Cotter & his wife Meg, Conor Heelan, Brian J. Heelan and her 4 great grand-children: Thomas J., Emma, Riley & Emmy Cotter.

The family will receive friends at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah NY 10536, Tuesday, November 27 from 9 to 11 AM. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, New Rochelle, NY.