Obituary of Frances M. Healey

Frances “Sis” Madigan Healey, a resident of New Canaan for 56 years, died January 6^th, she was 91.

She was born November 17, 1931 in Stamford to the late E. Gaynor Brennan, Sr. and Frances C. Brennan.  She is pre-deceased by her brothers, E. Gaynor Brennan, Jr., Donald C. Brennan and Paul S. Brennan.

Sis attended The Covent of the Sacred Heart in Noroton, class of 1949, where she was president of the school and captain of three varsity teams. At the young age of 25, Sis became the youngest president of the Sacred Heart Alumni Association which she served for nearly 10 years.  After Noroton, Sis continued her education at the Katharine Gibbs School in New York, graduating in 1952.   

In her youth, Sis found true joy swimming competitively.  When not at the Stamford Yacht Club pool, her training was often in Long Island sound--guided by the moon’s reflection--to the buoy marker and back.  Her swimming prowess led to exhibitions with Olympians and actors. Her win at the 1947 Yale Carnival in the 100 Meter Backstroke, broke the pool record and earned her a birth to the Olympic Trials in Detroit.  While she didn’t make it to London in 1948, the record at the Payne Whitney pool stood as the official Connecticut women’s backstroke record for nearly 30 years. Her closest competitor in that Yale meet, Suzanne Zimmerman, went on to win the Silver medal at the London games.

1948 was also the year Sis took up Golf.  It was at the driving range that she met her future husband, Jack Madigan. Sis and Jack were married in 1952 and joined the Woodway Country Club in 1953.  Sis’ athleticism and love of competition carried over to the golf course. In all, Sis was a 3-time Women’s Club Champion.

The Madigan’s moved to New Canaan in 1966 where Sis’s career in Real Estate began.  First with Margaret Hecker Real Estate and then with Brotherhood and Higley.  Sis’s career spanned more than 35 years.  If you bought your home from Sis, you would remember fondly the homemade Lasagna and brownies she would deliver on your move-in day.

Sis was pre-deceased by her beloved Jack in 1982.  In 1985, Sis married James R. “Jimbo” Healey.  Jim and Sis continued to reside in New Canaan while Sis continued her career until her “retirement” which never seemed to fully take hold.  Sis and Jim enjoyed traveling, being first on any dance floor and of course, golf.  Jim died in 2006. 

Sis’s love for her family and friends was boundless.   Sis had a knack for knowing what was needed and what to offer at just the right time. As one longtime friend said, “I love Sis, she anticipates.” 

A member of St. Aloysius Parish, Sis will miss her extended family at daily mass.  Her faith was her rock and her guide.  In the end, God brought her swiftly home.

Sis is survived by her children, John W. Madigan, III of Norwalk, Donald C. Madigan of Palmyra, VA, Deirdre D. Madigan (Ross Bickell) of the Bronx, NY and Sheila Madigan Torgan of Fairfield; her grandchildren, Jack Madigan, IV of Oakland, CA, Ali Madigan of Paris, France and Aimee Madigan of Burlington, VT; her sister-in-law Patricia Brennan of Stamford and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Sis was a member of the Woodway Country Club for nearly 70 years, a member of the Women’s Westchester and Fairfield Golf Association, the New Canaan Board of Realtors, she served on the Boards of the Easter Seals of Connecticut and the Stamford Rehabilitation Center.

Calling hours will be 4:00pm – 7:00pm, Tuesday January 24^th  at the Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, 104 Myrtle Avenue,  Stamford, CT.  A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 11:00am at St. Aloysius Church, New Canaan.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Sis’s name may be made to the Robert C Leverich Scholarship Fund at Woodway Country Club or OPIN, Outreach for Pets in Need, Stamford, CT. 

www.gallahjerfuneralhome.com