Raffaela Jeannette (Cone) Healy Posted: 2022-05-18 13:02:54

Raffaela Jeannette (Cone) Healy

Obituary

Raffaela Jeannette (Cone) Healy
Born: June 1, 1923 in Chicago, IL
Died: May 15, 2022 in Lakewood, IL
Raffaela (Rae) Jeannette Healy (98) of Lakewood, Illinois formerly of Schaumburg, Elmwood Park, and Chicago passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Sunday, May, 15, 2022.
Rae was born on June 1, 1923 of a strong Italian heritage family. Her parents were Alfredo Cone and Marie (nee Malone) Cone. Rae attended Providence Catholic High School on the West Side of Chicago. Rae’s father unfortunately died when she was 18 and sister Gloria was 12 years old. These three strong Italian women became an inseparable trio for the remainder of their lives.
Rae was a graduate of the Chicago Academy of the Fine Arts, specializing in Interior Design. She was employed as the head designer at Sears located at Harlem & North where she decorated homes of many prominent figures of the Chicago Italian community. While at Sears she met a handsome Irishman named Richard Healy who was able to convince her to marry him after she turned down two other suitors. They were married for 57 years until Richard’s death in 2017. Richard and Rae owned and operated an interior decors business named “Elm Custom House” in River Forest and Glen Ellyn. Later in life Rae worked at the US Post Office in Arlington Heights, retiring after 19 years.
Rae’s life passions were family, friends, church, art, music, and travel. She was the consummate hostess throwing memorable parties for friends and family. She loved to host both the Irish and Italian families for a huge Christmas celebration. She was an active member of St. Matthew Catholic church choir and Harper Festival chorus which traveled annually to different European countries. After her retirement, Richard and Rae enjoyed over 20 years at their second home in Naples, Florida.
Raffaela is survived by her daughters Marie-Ellen (Timothy) Hull and Kathleen Healy, Grandchildren Brittany (Steven) Solomon, Andrew and Connor (Megan) Hull, Great Granddaughters Elizabeth Sara and Evelynn Rae Solomon, Brother-in-Law Robert Healy, Nephew’s Fred-Michael (Tamara) Marion, Jim (Julie) Healy, John (Carolyn) Healy and Nieces Bridget (Joe) LaPietra and Mary Healy.
She is preceded in death by her beloved parents, soulmate Richard, sister Gloria (Fred) Marion, niece Laura Marion, sisters/brother-in-law, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2022 between the hours of 2-6PM at DeFiore Funeral Home, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley, IL. A funeral Mass will be held at 1PM, Monday, May 23 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Road, Huntley, IL with a visitation one hour preceding the Mass. Raffaela will be interned at St. Michael’s the Archangel Catholic cemetery in Palatine, IL.
In lieu of flowers please send donations in honor of Rae Healy to Senior Services Associates (www.seniorservicesassoc.org) a non-profit agency offering extensive services to the elderly and disabled in the area.

Please leave a video condolence by entering your name and click the "Record" button below. You can always preview your video prior to submitting it. Please note that you may be prompted to allow DefioreFuneral access to your camera.


Send Flowers

Frank Creamer 2022-05-19 09:24:48

What a wonderful life!! My sincerest condolences.

Grace Reiland 2022-05-20 18:06:36

Rae was such a beautiful lady and a good friend. She was always so bright and fun to be with. I am so privileged to be considered part of the Healy familyw!

Robin Treat 2022-05-20 21:04:58

Family. The word can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Sometimes family isn’t just the one you’ve been born into but it can be the family of a friend you met over 46 years ago. Family can be someone who opens their home and opens their heart to you without reservation. Family can be accepting a bit of a wayward Jewish child into their home on every Catholic holiday, introducing that child with a wave of a hand and words that say “Oh you know Robin” like she’s always been there and she belongs. Family kisses your whole face by way of greeting and holds your hand just to remind you they are there. The Healy’s have always been family to me. At Mrs. Healy was the heart of the family. So, thank you Mrs. Healy for welcoming me into your home so many years ago, for forcing your daughter to be my friend and for filling my heart with enough love for a lifetime. You will always be remembered.

Timothy Hull 2022-05-21 14:46:50

Rae, you will be missed greatly and as Robin noted, you took in someone that wasn't quite what you had planned for your daughter. Enter a relatively poor backwoods country Protestant into a suburban Catholic family and you opened your home and heart. You and Gloria eventually even started calling me by my correct name (not Mike BTW). I was blessed with two mothers in my lifetime, Alice for 37 years and you for 35 wonderful years. We honor you for your love, life lessons, and steadfastness. You were a strong and confident woman while living through some tough times such as losing your father at a young age, the depression, World War II, losing your business due to fire, and then re-entering the workforce. You were a renaissance woman who broke through employment barriers while managing to raise two beautiful daughters, serving the church, and having a bit of fun with Richard, family, and friends along the way. We all can only hope to live life as you have, with love, passion, and gusto. Rest well.

Cynthia & Joe Ingram 2022-05-21 18:20:56

My sincere condolences. She was a wonderful person who was always kind to us.

Michael “Freddie” Marion 2022-05-23 12:29:09

Rae was more than a second mother and she was still much more than just an Aunt. I believe she knew me better than I knew myself - At least the best version of me. We were linked by a spiritual and emotional bond that can’t be explained and will never be broken. When someone as special Rae passes there is a piece of your heart which can never be filled. The legacy of taking care of her own mom during her last years was carried on by the way Marie Ellen and Kathy took care of her. It was a beautiful and inspiring thing to see. She leaves behind two wonderful daughters who I know she is very proud of and I will continue to live my life so that she will be proud of me too. We are all blessed for having her in her life and she will be dearly missed and never forgotten.