Funny, compassionate, beautiful, artistic, talented
The telltale sign of a Healy sister was a penchant for silliness. Abby and her sisters, Amber and Ashley, were always up to something. Amber, especially, made Abby free to be her goofiest self, and Abby could make Amber laugh harder than anyone. Embarrassment simply didn’t exist between the two. On the contrary, they delighted in it. Abby could do the wildest impressions and dance without inhibitions, and her sister would laugh in total enjoyment of the spectacle, but the performance that everyone looked forward to was Abby’s choreography to I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. She started dancing to the song when she was a little girl, and her sisters, so pleased by her show, made her do it every Christmas into her late teens. Not even college could stop their sisterly fun. When Amber went away to school, Abby visited for slumber parties, and their nights were filled with junk food, dancing, and time with her hamster, Bugsy.
Silliness was a family tradition, and Abby lovingly passed it down to her daughter, Ella. They would both dress up and dance around, and Abby would paint Ella’s nails and bake cupcakes with her. The two weren’t just mother and daughter; they were the best of friends. Ella is eleven years old now but was only two when her mother passed, and she will forever be Abby’s greatest accomplishment.
Though she mostly worked in retail and food service, in her heart, Abby was an artist. She was a talented creative, and expressed herself by sketching. Abby could draw anything around her but loved designing pictures of sugar skulls and flowers the best. She also enjoyed the artistic side of cosmetics and could style hair and do makeup like a professional. Abby always did her own hair and makeup to perfection, emphasizing her natural beauty. When she was younger, she insisted on doing Amber’s makeup, hair, and nails at slumber parties and would do her mother’s as well. She never got the opportunity, but it was a dream of hers to take her creative skills to the next level and attend art school one day.
Abby’s substance use disorder stole a lot from the Healy sisters, but they are comforted by the beautiful memories she left them. Abby was there for the birth of Amber’s first child and welcomed him into the world with open arms. Although Abby passed away only two months later, her sister is eternally grateful Abby met him. She and Ashley had their differences, but no one can forget the time when Abby delivered her maid of honor speech at Ashley’s reception. She worked tirelessly for weeks crafting it, and on the big day, she moved the entire room to tears, including Ashley.
Abby is missed for her sweet laugh and big heart. She was the type of person who would do anything to help others. In that same generous spirit, her family hosts a benefit in her name every year, and they hold fundraisers to help others with their sobriety.
Abby’s sister, Amber Baker, provided the information for this narrative.
November 28, 1992-July 14, 2015-Age 33
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Willow Kline
