June 20, 2022

OBITUARY: Sister Mary Gallagher, SSJ

REGIONAL

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Sister of St. Joseph Mary Gallagher (formerly Sister James Irene), 89, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died at Bethany Health Care Center in Framingham on June 18. A native of West Springfield, she was the daughter of James F. and Irene J. (Carmel) Gallagher.

She graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in 1951. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee and a master of arts in library science from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

She taught for nine years in schools in the Springfield Diocese, including St. Joseph Central High School, Pittsfield; and St. Jerome, Holy Rosary, and Holyoke Catholic high schools in Holyoke. She was assistant librarian at Elms College, Chicopee, and a research scholar at Emmanuel College. She served as an editor for Catholic Library World and was an officer of the Catholic Library Association. She became the Elms College archivist in 2000 and served for 12 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather John E. Stamant; her brothers, William Gallagher, John Stamant and Robert Stamant; and her sister Jean Jurek. In addition to her sisters in community, she leaves her brother, Edward Gallagher; her sister, Betty Harkins; her brother-in-law, Fred Harkins; and several generations of nieces and nephews.

Services will take place at Blessed Sacrament Church in Holyoke on Thursday, June 23. She will be waked from 9-9:45 a.m., with a prayer service at 9:15 a.m. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mont Marie Cemetery in Holyoke.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104; or to The College of Our Lady of the Elms, 291 Springfield St., Chicopee, MA 01013.