Philomena M. (Heaney) Coombs

Dracut – Mrs. Philomena M. (Heaney) Coombs, of Dracut, formerly of Waltham, passed away on Friday, August 26, 2022 at Palm Center Nursing Home in Chelmsford in the arms of her loving family after bravely battling cancer. She was 79.

Philomena was born in the small village of Letterfrack, Co. Galway, Ireland, in 1943. She was the daughter of the late John and Barbara Heaney and was one of 14 siblings. She immigrated to the United States when she was 18, first settling in Somerville before moving to Waltham. On April 30, 1966 she married James T. Coombs in Saint Mary's Church on School Street. She and her husband raised their three children in Waltham and remained there until 1991 when they moved to Billerica and then to Dracut in 2016.

She took wonderful care of her patients as a dietary aide in area nursing homes including Maristhill, Reservoir, and Meadow Green. Philomena loved gardening with her husband Jimmy. In addition, she loved taking trips to New Hampshire and Maine with her family where she made many, happy memories.

In addition to her husband, James, she leaves her children, William Coombs of Englewood, New Jersey, Lisa Greene (Roger El-Hachem) of Farmington, Connecticut, and Karen Weeks (John) of Billerica; her grandchildren, Jessica and Jillian Weeks, Camilla El-Hachem, and Olivia Ketchian Coombs; her siblings Maureen, Jo Jo, Peggy, Stephen, Paul, Gerry, Benny and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her siblings Mick, Thomas, Barbara, John, Peadar, and Marty and niece, Cheryl Ford.

Philomena was also the grandmother of the late, beloved Ava El-Hachem.

Family and friends will honor and remember Philomena's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Friday, September 9th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Those wishing to view the livestream (and recording) of Philomena's Mass may do so by visiting https://my.gather.app/remember/philomena-coombs