Marilyn Heal

Marilyn A. Richards Heal, age 75, of Wilmington, DE, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on May 6, 2007.
Marilyn was a devoted mother & friend. In addition to caring for her own 6 children she babysat many other children throughout the years. For a time, she was a Girl Scout Leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother and a member of the International Order of Jobs Daughters, Bethel #9.
She had a true zest for life and loved meeting people and going places. Marilyn was always willing to lend support to anyone in need. She loved angels and always wore an angel pin on her clothing. When she met someone in need of spiritual or emotional support she would remove her angel and pin it on them. The most important thing in life to Marilyn was her family and she leaves behind an unmatched legacy of love & caring for everyone she knew. For over 40 years, Marilyn was very involved with Recovery, Inc., a self help volunteer organization, and in 2004 was honored as a Leader Emeritus for the Philadelphia Delaware Valley Area for her many years of Dedication and Service with Distinction & Recovery, Inc.as a group and area leader. She was an active member of St.Mark's United Methodist Church until her illness. She was also a member of Eastern Star, Chapter 13 in Newport, De for 41 years and a Point Officer for many years. In 1992, she was featured in the Wilmington News Journal as a "Hero of the Week" for her community service and was also a nominee for the Jefferson Award for service to the community. In December 2001, she retired from Cokesbury Village Retirement Home where she had been a receptionist for 20 years. She also worked in the Learning Center at Dickinson High School in the 1970's and was a cheerleading coach.
Marilyn is survived by her 6 children; Bonnie & her husband, William Spear of Middletown, DE; daughter, Marilyn & her husband, Gary Jones also of Middletown; son, Charles M. Heal, III & wife Evelyn of Newark; son, Kim of Delaware City; daughter, Pam & her husband, Tim Gregg of Wilmington; and daughter, Cindy & her husband, Larry Sweringen, of Baltimore, MD; 15 grandchildren, Kristie, Melissa & Alison Spear; Bryan, Adam & Caren Jones; Kevin & Courtney Heal; Kimberly & William Heal; Katrina Jones, Matthew & Chad Gregg; Brett & Renee Sweringen; and 3 great grandchildren, Matthew Solerno, Kyle Jones & Joseph Brown, VI. Marilyn is also survived by her brother, Dick Richards & his wife, Dee of Milford, DE; a sister, Suzanne & her husband Charles Connell of Hockessin, DE; sister-in-law, Frances Woodward & her husband William of Wilmington; and her dearest lifelong friends, Pat & Lou DiMaio of Myrtle Beach, SC. Marilyn is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her former husband, of 32 years, Charles M. Heal, Jr., and 2 grandchildren, Gail Spear and Kyle Gregg.
A viewing will be held at Nichols-Gilmore Funeral Home, 212 E. Justis St., Newport, DE, from 6-8 pm, Thursday, May 10, 2007, where Eastern Star services will begin at 6:30. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 am, Friday, May 11th at St.Mark's United Methodist Church, 1700 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE. Interment will follow at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. Dupont Hwy., New Castle, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Rd., Wilmington, DE 19810; Delaware Alzheimer's Assoc., 2306 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilmington, DE 19805 or Recover, Inc., 802 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610.