MARY E. GALLAGHER

Mary Elizabeth Gallagher died June 24, 2024 at Fritzingertown Senior Living Community in Drums, Pennsylvania.  Born December 6, 1935, in White Haven to George Shinglock and the former Anna Talarovich, Mary lived in White Haven for most of her life.  She graduated from White Haven High School in the class of 1952, and later attended Jefferson College of Nursing in Philadelphia.  She worked as a nurse for several years before marrying John P. Gallagher, also of White Haven, in 1958.  The Gallaghers had seven children. They were divorced in 1983.

Mary travelled extensively with her family.  She skied with her husband in Austria, and visited Paris, Madrid, and Hawaii. The family took long camper trips to the Florida Keys and the American west.  On one memorable summer trip to Yosemite, the Gallaghers brought another family of five along to join the ranks.  Mary and her husband entertained often, particularly during Jack Gallagher’s tenure at the local EMCEE, Inc. plant.  Extra kids were always welcome at the Gallagher house.

Mary resumed her nursing career in the late 1970s, working at a medical clinic in Blakeslee and later at the Freeland Health Center until she retired at the age of 70.  During her second nursing career, Mary provided a lot of informal care in addition to her day job. She took many calls at home from patients who felt more comfortable talking to her than to the doctors, and she often stopped on her way to or from work to check blood pressure or drop off medicine for patients.  

She remained active in retirement, biking, swimming, and playing tennis in addition to pitching in to help care for various grandchildren.  She took grandchildren swimming, sang them songs from the 1940s, taught them to make palacinki, and terrified them with her driving.

She was a beautiful and spirited woman.  She learned to ski and waterski as an adult, and was certified as a lifeguard in her late 30s.  When she was eight months pregnant with her son Brian, she shot the biggest buck in the county from the cupola of the Gallaghers’ barn, the hunting perch assigned to her because she was too big to waddle through the deep snow.  She fought a fierce but losing battle with technology, as all her children and grandchildren can attest.  She never arrived on time for any occasion, including the weddings of her children.  The Christmases she created for the family when the Gallagher children were small looked like Santa’s workshop.  She was an excellent cook, making Slovak recipes that her Aunt Pauline taught her as well as the more exotic fare that her husband liked, such as steak fondue with bearnaise sauce and endive salad.  Once she accidentally set her kitchen cabinets on fire.

Mary is survived by her brother George Shinglock (Phyllis) of White Haven, and by five of her children: Ann (Michael Degitz); Sheila Weaver; Mary Lee Gallagher (Dave Lloyd); Shawn Gallagher (Katie); and Melissa Hudock (Mike). Two sons died earlier -- Michael in 2010 and Brian in 2019.  She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren:  Sarah and Charlie Weaver; Rory Gallagher; Ashley Shirley Sullivan; Laura and Claire Degitz; John Michael and Kellie Mae Gallagher; Megan and Rachel Hudock; Tim, Kate, and Jackie Gallagher. Mary also had three great-grandchildren, Natalie, Rebecca, and Alexander Goslin.

Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, July 1, 2024 in St Patrick’s Church White Haven with a Funeral mass at 11:00 a.m.

Arrangements under the direction of the Lehman Family Funeral Service White Haven.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions, may be made to St. Patrick's Church, White Haven.

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