Isobel Heely, 93, died peacefully Tuesday morning, December 8, 2015. Australian War Bride, loving Marine wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, piano teacher, performer and friend to all she met.
Isobel Boustead was born October 8, 1922 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Attended Pleasant Street State School, Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College, Melbourne Technical College and Emily McPherson College. She studied art and music and earned her Commercial Artist Certificate, Art Teacher's Certificate and Piano Teachers Certificate at the Melbourne University Conservatory of Music.
She met a young U. S. Marine Officer, Dale Horstman Heely in 1943 during the war and was married in the Presbyterian Church of Ballarat, Australia. She traveled with other war brides to America in 1944 on a camouflaged troopship, a former luxury liner "Mariposa", to meet her in-laws in Virginia. Her adult life was spent moving from coast to coast with the Marine Corps, raising her five children and teaching art and music to many young people in Portsmouth.
Isobel (remembered as "Beau" to many) was Past President of the Cradock Music Club and the Elizabeth Manor Woman's Golf Association. She was a member of the Monumental United Methodist Church Choir, the Portsmouth Community Concert Association Board, and the Portsmouth Music Study Club. Her love for musical theater was satisfied in the many musical productions of Monumental Church where she was cast as "Aunt Ella" in Music Man and "Sister Bertha" in The Sound of Music.
She is predeceased by her husband Dale H. Heely, her parents: Mr. and Mrs. Elder Boustead (Adeline White) and granddaughter Karen M. Heely. Isobel displayed a quiet, yet abiding faith in her savior, Jesus Christ and remained to her last days a source of encouragement and inspiration to her extended family. She loved the staff and friends at Churchland House and made everyone feel very special whenever they visited especially when they brought their guitar or banjo.
She is survived by her five children: E. Dale Heely (Joy) of Columbia Falls, Montana, Robert A. Heely (Lush) of Norfolk, James E. Heely of Chesapeake, Susan May Heely of Portsmouth and Jonathan B. Heely (Laurie) of Santa Clarita, California; her thirteen grandchildren: Tanya Heely, Dale T. Heely (Elizabeth), Rebecca H. Peterson (James), Robert A. Heely, Jr. (Johanna), Edward Boustead Heely, J. Nathan Heely, Sean Heely, Adam G. Elkins (Heather), Benjamin M. Elkins, Lindsay Palaszewski (Mark), Victoria L. Heely, J. Blake Heely Jr. and Isobel R. Heely; her great-granddaughters Mackenzie Ann Peterson, Adeline Green Peterson, Campbell Marie Peterson, Hazel Seddon Heely, Hattie Eliza Heely, Blythe Josephine Heely, Elizabeth Palaszewski and great-grandsons Myles Thomas Heely, Evan Graham Elkins and Grant Edward Elkins.
A visitation will be held on Friday, December 11, 2015 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Foster Funeral Home at 1926 High Street, Portsmouth. A Graveside Service will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday. December 12, 2015 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a gift to your favorite charity in their mother's memory. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.