Betty Florence Sheridan

Betty Florence McDonald Healy Sheridan Obituary

Pasadena, CA - Betty Florence McDonald Healy Sheridan, two months shy of her 101st birthday, of Pasadena, California, passed away peacefully with family on May 25th 2025. Betty was born in Bellingham, Washington on July 23rd 1924 to Alick and Florence McDonald. In her youth she modeled and played the oboe.

Betty graduated from Holy Names Academy and from the University of Washington, where she belonged to the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Betty's career path began at the Bon Marche where she was a copy writer, that was followed by her position as award- winning Ad Manager of Nordstrom Best. Finally, Betty's last position, was as senior editor at the University of Washington. She was a published poet and loved taking writing classes, especially from her favorite professor, Nelson Bentley.

Betty and her husband Nicholas Healy raised four children on Capitol Hill. She will be remembered for her elegance, style, radiant smile, warmth, humor, and effortless charm. She began to travel internationally in her 40's. Her favorite destination was Paris which she visited three times. She enjoyed celebrating her 100th birthday with a two- day party with family and delighted all with a poetry reading.

Betty was preceded in death by her husbands, Nicholas Healy and Dr. Michael Sheridan; and her brother Ronald.

She is survived by her four children and their spouses: Willow Healy (Devin), Nick Healy (Maureen), Brooke Healy (Larry Tuke), and Lisa Crump (Scott). Her memory lives on by her five grandchildren, Alex Healy, Brittany Lopez (Rafa), Logan Healy-Tuke, Sydney Crump, Megan Gastineau (Jon); two great grandchildren Lincoln Gastineau, June Gastineau; and her niece Tricia Bourdeau (Robert).

In our beloved Betty's own words: One of her poems.

Last Thought

The poem is inside my emptiness.

A stone of light,

A certain moment that is elsewhere

seeking the dream, the elegance of reason.

The natural world is obedient

To curves of the sun, the long branch of night.

We leave one another, releasing our hands, you into another world as sleep draws you into its circle like an anxious suitor.

A 11:00 a.m. funeral mass will be conducted at St. Catherine of Siena Church on June 17th. Following mass, there will be a private grave site ceremony for immediate family only.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to Holy Names Academy, where Betty has a scholarship in her name. Betty McDonald Healy Sheridan '42 scholarship at the following link, www.holynames-sea.org.

Emmick Family Funeral Home - Lake View of Seattle, WA & Cabot & Sons of Pasadena, CA are in care of the arrangements. Please share memories and sign the guestbook, located at https://www.emmicklakeview.com/obituaries/betty-sheridan