Neila A. Healy, 73, of Bristol, RI entered eternal life on Thursday, November 30, 2023. Her daughter, Sarah was at her side when she passed. Neila was predeceased by her mother, Mary Greene Healy and her father, Cornelius Healy. She leaves many people who will mourn her passing including her daughter Sarah Healy, Godson Daniel Kidder and Goddaughter Leigh Ann Kissner.

Neila was born and raised in New Haven, CT and spent some of the happiest times in her life as a student at St. Mary’s High School where she made life-long friends. Even in the last years of her life, she was able to reconnect and socialize with many high school friends.

Neila had a long-distinguished career in the Postal Service and served as a Postmaster in several towns and cities in CT and in RI. She influenced the careers of many postal workers and took great pride in developing younger colleagues to rise within the postal system. After retirement from the Post Office, she began teaching ESL and computer literacy classes in the Adult Education Program in RI. She enjoyed the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of her students, as well as sharing the accomplishments of many of her students who remained in contact after graduation.

In the early years of her life, before physical challenges arose, Neila loved to participate in sporting activities and was an avid skier and tennis player. She had a love for travel, reading, and photography. Many times, she would be the one behind the camera capturing glimpses of her life with her friends and family.
Faith played a huge role in Neila’s life. When she was living in CT she became an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and would bring the Eucharist to people hospitalized at St. Raphael’s Hospital. She continued serving as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s Church in Bristol, RI.

Her life was filled with joy when she became a godmother and shared her love with children and, then became a mother to Sarah, the greatest joy in her life. Neila always loved and supported her daughter in every possible way, who she raised to be a strong independent woman and encouraged her to go after anything she wanted in life. Even with her physical challenges she never missed any of her daughter’s school performances, competitions, or sporting events throughout grade school and college. Whether she had to be up early in the morning, sitting in a cold ice-skating rink, driving hours to tournaments, or enduring outdoor weather conditions. It didn’t matter if it was a volleyball tournament that would be an all day event or a rowing race where she would only see minutes of Sarah, Neila would always be there cheering her daughter on. Neila shared a deep love for Disney with her daughter, and they would take many family vacations to Disney World where they created some of the best memories. It was always evident to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing or speaking to Neila how proud she was of her daughter, Sarah and the amount of love she had for her.

Many of us will mourn her death and miss her for years to come and be thankful for all the ways she contributed to our lives.
Neila is survived by her loving daughter, Sarah Healy.

Services are with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Rd. Warren, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at 10AM in St. Mary’s Church, 330 Wood St. Bristol, RI. The family encourages and welcomes you to wear colorful clothing in memory of Neila’s radiant personality.

For Directions or tributes, please visit: www.Wjsmithfh.com.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Neila’s daughter, Sarah Healy to help alleviate any financial hardships.