Rochelle Herald, Rochelle, Illinois
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1914
p. 1, Col 1

DEATH OF WILLIAM HEALY
One of the Prominent and Successful Business Man of this City.

William Healy died at his home at 426 7th Street Friday evening. Mr. Healy had been afflicted with paralysis for the past three years and gradually failed. Until about three weeks before his death he was able to be about.

William Healy has been one of the leading and progressive men of Rochelle for the past 30 years and has contributed largely of his time and money in almost every improvement that has been made in our city during his residence here. He was one of the few men who came to Rochelle at an early date and invested all of his earnings in business enterprises and property in this city and immediate vicinity. He was a very successful business man accumulated a large amount of property.

He was a staunch Democrat, taking a great interest in the party and contributed largely in its maintenance. He represented the Second Ward as Alderman in the city council for two terms.
The funeral was held from St. Patrick's Catholic Church Monday morning, the church being crowded with relatives and friends to pay their last sad tribute to one they loved. The priests who officiated at the solemn requiem mass were Fathers Keedy and Flanagan of Rockford and Father Burke of Rochelle. The burial was in the family lot at the South Side Cemetery.

William Healy was born in 1846 in County Sligo, Ireland. He came to New York with his mother when 4 years old. He came to Rockford when he was seven years old and at 17 he went to Freeport where he was superintendent at the gas works and had charge of other gas plants. In 1871 he came to Rochelle and established himself in business.

In 1876 he was married to Miss Mary McDermott. Ten children were born to them, eight of whom are living, they are: Mabel, now Mrs. R. E. Stevens, Will, Frank, John, Charles, Winfield, Ruth and Carleton and one grandson, Robert Healy Stevens. He was the youngest and last of his family. Two brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.

Those attending the funeral from out of town were: Mrs. C.H. Gage, Frank Gage, Mrs. Don Gage, Thomas Herbert and son, William Herbert, Miss Anna Herbert, Helen O'Brien, M.A. Farry (Parry?), Chicago; John and George O'Malley, W. J. Kennedy, Dixon,; Walter O'Malley, Rock Island; Charles O'Malley, Anna McElroy, Moline; Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Herbern, Belvidere; Doctor O'Malley, Kewanee; Mrs. F. G. Barber, Frank and Claude Barber, Malta; Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Yetter, James Delaney, Steward; Mr.and Mrs. McDermott, DeKalb; Mrs. Albert O'Malley, Sterling.

Contributed by Peg Arnold

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