ELIZABETH HEYWARD O’REILLY

Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Heyward O’Reilly, died March 2, 2016, at her residence in Winchester, Virginia. She passed very peacefully, surrounded by love. Betsy was born August 12, 1956 in New London, CT, the daughter of the late Captain Francis Dewey Heyward and Harriette Thompson Heyward. She graduated from Langley High School in McLean, VA and then attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Following her study at ODU, Betsy was self-employed and provided secretarial and administrative support to a number of different clients, until her retirement in April, 2012. She was an avid gardener and loved spending peaceful moments landscaping and building memorial gardens on her property. Betsy had a great appreciation of nature and all things of the earth. She loved to fish, sing and dance. She loved cats, her home in the country, following spiritual pursuits, and entertaining friends. Betsy loved crystals, reading, gaming, beading, and other creative arts. She was a Reiki master and devoted the latter years of her life to the art of healing and gifted many students with the ability to practice Reiki. Betsy was a fiery, dedicated, student of spirituality. She was a philanthropist and devoted generous amounts of her time to helping others. Betsy had hundreds of friends, having lived in the Northern Virginia areas of Arlington, McLean, and Falls Church for many years. She also had friends all around the country and around the globe. She dearly loved all of her friends and greatly appreciated their presence in her life. A fierce supporter of her friends’ artistic and professional endeavors, Betsy loved full-hearted and lived at full-throttle. Her life was an inspiration to others; Betsy’s humor and laughter will be sorely missed by all who know and love her.
Both parents and her older sister, Merrimon (“Merri”) Heyward Wright, preceded her in death. Surviving are her twin sister, Harriette (“Hatsie”) Heyward Charbonneau, her brother, William (“Bill”) Francis Heyward, her nephew, Jeremy Charbonneau, her niece, Nicole Marley (Ian) and her grand-niece and grand-nephew, Emma and Benjamin Marley, her niece, Lindsey Wright, as well as numerous cousins and close friends. She was especially fond of Hatsie’s husband, Bill Winter, and her nephew Jeremy’s fiancée, Caitlin Rossi.

A memorial service celebrating Betsy’s life will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at Omps Funeral Home, 1600 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA, with Rev. Joellyn St. Pierre officiating. (Visitation is at 11:00 am, with reception following her service). Inurnment private. Betsy suggested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Blue Ridge Hospice (www.brhospice.org), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or Friends of Homeless Animals (www.foha.org).

Online condolences may be sent at www.ompsfuneralhome.com.