Mary E. Gallagher

Mary Elizabeth Gallagher, 95, (born Mary Elizabeth Corcoran) of Brookline, Massachusetts, went to be with the Lord on March 10, 2024. She passed away peacefully in the presence of her children at the Lourdes Noreen McKeen Assisted Living Community in West Palm Beach, Florida. Mary was born on May 11, 1928, in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, to Katherine Laly and William Corcoran. A very devout Catholic, Mary attended Simmons College and later earned a master’s degree in education from Boston College, a Jesuit school. Following her graduation, Mary taught English at Barry School in Massachusetts. She met John M. Gallagher Jr. shortly thereafter. They married in 1953 in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Brookline, Massachusetts, then moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where they raised their 6 children. Mary went on to teach school for 30 years at St. Anne Catholic School in Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania. Her fondest memories were of her summers in Cape Cod with her children and Christmases with all her grandchildren.  After she retired, she traveled to the Holy Land with her good friends at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Never wavering in her devotion, Mary’s greatest contribution was sharing her strong Catholic faith with her family and students.  She is survived by her three children, Robert Gallagher, William Gallagher and Margaret Mitro; son-in-law Dr. Craig Shrift, daughter-in-law Loretta Gallagher; 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband John, son John Michael Gallagher III and two daughters, Katherine and Sarah. Mary will be dearly missed by all her loved ones.

Family and friends welcome on Friday, April 5, from 6-8 p.m. at Freyvogel-Slater Funeral Directors, 112 Fort Couch Road, Bethel Park, and Saturday, April 6, at 9:30 a.m. for a funeral mass at St. Anne Catholic Church, 400 Hoodridge Drive, Pittsburgh. Interment immediately following at St. Anne Cemetery.