Edith Heal

November 5, 2023, Edith H. Heal, 85, passed away peacefully from heart disease and dementia in Anchorage, Alaska. She joined the love of her life, Larry, and their infant daughter Sherry, who both preceded her in death, all are angels looking down on us now. She will be buried at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery alongside her husband Larry.

Edith was born in Readstown, WI, and grew up the daughter of Emmett and Alice Hill. Edith married Larry E Heal, in May 1956 in Readstown, WI. They moved to Anchorage, Alaska in 1957 where they raised their family. Edith & Larry have 3 living children, Vicki Faeo, Cindi Heal-Harsh, & Lawrence (Larry) Heal. Edith and Larry lived in West Anchorage until 1987 when they moved to Palmer. Edith suffered a vascular stroke in 2020 and lived out her remaining years at Opus Memoria in Anchorage surrounded by loving caregivers and her daughter Cindi who was her right hand while living at Opus.

Edith was a Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother. She loved her family and was an excellent teacher of all things historical, magical, and beautiful. She taught Vicki how to ride horses, taught Cindi to play baseball, and even started learning soccer for Lawrence. In the end, the Heal kids all love sports, with many thanks to Mom for teaching them how to play, win, lose, win again, and go back for more. She was dedicated to teaching her children everything she knew about this world and more. Edith spent many years behind the wheel of a Cadillac driving all over Anchorage for her kids sporting events, music lessons, practices and even racing across Anchorage to rescue her daughter Cindi and friends on bikes who needed a ride home when their chosen journey was too long. She loaded the bikes in the back of the Cadillac and took everyone home safely many times.

Edith did not love to cook, but she was an excellent snack maker. When Vicki was young, she was known for hiding dirty dishes in the oven when people arrived unexpectedly. When Cindi and Lawrence were young the Heal house was the spot for after-school snacks. She was later famous for Grandmas afterschool surprises that almost always had whipped cream on top.

Edith loved to travel. She ventured all over the US and ventured to Europe. Edith's Husband Larry was an Allstate Insurance Agent and travel was a big part of their life together. Family vacations were a favorite to her, Larry, and their children. Many trips included stops at national monuments and parks. She liked to stop and read the historical placards to her family and then quiz them about the events that happened at that place. Her love of all things history made her an excellent teacher to all. She did her best to show the kids the world. She also loved Las Vegas. She and Larry traveled there with dear friends in the 1970s and the 1980s. Later in life, she traveled there a few times each year, mostly with her daughter Vicki. She loved to play slot machines and attend shows there.

Edith had a passion for snowmobile racing in the early days of the Anchorage Motor Mushers Snowmobile Club and took home trophies often. She was competitive and a perfectionist, which led to her love for the game of golf. She started golfing in Anchorage in the late 1970s and part of the reason for the relocation to Palmer was the easy access to the Palmer Golf course. She was a member and volunteer for the Valley Golf Association. She played to win and sometimes outdrove the men she played with. In later years Edith could be found on the Palmer Golf Course with son-in-law Chris and his friends. She was a force to be reckoned with on the Golf Course and was aware of her own skill level. Her final game of golf was played at age 80.

Edith loved Alaska for its Mountains, Lakes, and green grass. She was very proud of her lawn and garden and took care of both herself until she was in her 80s. When the kids were young Larry and Edith had a fishing boat, a cabin at Big Lake and spent weekends on the water, whether it be on a snowmobile or a boat. She loved showing her children new skills.

One fond memory of Edith was the first time she drove a watercraft called a Sea-Doo in the mid-1970s and dumped herself and her son Lawrence in Big Lake. She was a skilled rider but was worried about losing her big black sunglasses and crashed trying to save them from falling off her head. That story followed her for years, as she did not want to be rescued by Larry and friends until she found the sunglasses.

Edith will be missed for her loving, mischievous ways and we will all miss her saying Be a good Girl or Be a Good Boy to all those she cared about as a parting goodbye that she said always during her life and even at Opus with caregivers. Edith had a smile for everyone and loved to sing. Her Happy Birthday serenades will always be remembered fondly and will stick with us forever.

Edith is survived by her daughter Vicki Faeo (John D.) daughter Cindi Heal-Harsh (Chris,) and son Lawrence (Karen,) Grandsons John M Faeo (Holland,) Scott Faeo (Rebecca,) Connor Heal (Emma,) and Noah. She had 3 Great Grandchildren JT, Finn, and Freyja. Edith was preceded in Death by her Husband Larry, Infant Daughter Sherry, Parents Emmett & Alice Hill, Sister and Brothers Gail Stoikes, Dale Hill, Claire Hill, and Vernon Hill.

Services will be held at Janssen's Mat-Su Funeral Home on Nov. 19, 2023, at 1 p.m.