Obituary for Elizabeth McKee "Lee" Gallagher
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Elizabeth McKee Gallagher, 78, of Wethersfield, peacefully passed away Sunday, July 26th, 2020 after each family member was able to express their love and gratitude for her life’s work as Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Sister-in-law. Born on February 25th, 1942 in Hartford, Connecticut, she was the daughter of the late John and Gertrude Reardon Gallagher. She is predeceased by her brother, John (Jack) Gallagher, and her beloved son, Christopher John Walters, whom she has missed so very, very much.
Elizabeth, fondly known to family and friends as Lee, grew up in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on Hollenbeck Avenue where her childhood days were spent fishing in the morning and swimming all afternoon. She was once selected to be the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting, only to be turned away later as the painter was looking for the young girl he had seen with the fiery red hair and matching spirit, and not the girl in bows and a pink dress that her mother switched her into.
Lee returned to Hartford after her father died on April 11th, 1946 so that her mother could work at Northwest-Jones Junior High School. Lee went on to graduate from high school at “The Mount” or Mount Saint Joseph’s Academy in 1960, obtained her B.A. from Our Lady of the Elms College in 1966, and earned her Master’s degree from Trinity College in 1972. She was a PhD Candidate at the University of Connecticut whose independent dissertation focused on the leadership and funding of the Hartford Public School system; proving how far ahead of her time she really was.
Employed as an elementary school teacher by the Hartford Public School system for 52 years, leaving only to begin her battle with breast cancer at the age of 75, Lee was known as “Mrs. Galli-gators.” Using skittles, light-up dinosaurs, and positive reinforcement to connect with her students, Lee was a master at getting children to read. She preferred the kids with behavioral challenges because she saw the light in every student. Lee also worked at night teaching English as a Second Language to help put her 4 children through college, following in her own Mother’s footsteps.
She was a loving and strong Irish Mother, loyal friend, and fun grandmother to her 7 grandchildren who flourished in her support. She treasured her relationship with Karen Gallagher, her sister-in-law, and her beloved nieces, Terry Gregoire and Patty Crispi to whom she was “Lee Lee” before even becoming a mother herself. Being a “lefty” herself, she believed left-handed people to be of higher intelligence, and as an avid knitter she knitted berry hats for babies, sweaters, scarves, and over 75 Christmas stockings for her family and friends. She loved watching Survivor with her granddaughter Emily, and was an avid fan of both Big Brother, Masterpiece Theater, and Downton Abbey. She read the “Irish Sports Page” every day (obituaries) and could answer most questions on Jeopardy. She believed in being honest, working hard, and the power of surrounding yourself and loved ones with kind people. She loved the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and UConn Basketball, and, as a life-long Democrat, was anxiously awaiting the upcoming election on November 3rd, 2020.
Lee is survived by her children, Elizabeth Enright and her husband, Michael Enright, of Wethersfield, Matthew Walters of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Patrick Walters and his Partner, Angel Crespo, of Ansonia, Connecticut, and her grandchildren Thea Walters, Michael Messina, Aidan Walters, Emily Messina, Tess Walters, Cathryn Walters and Christopher Patrick Walters, and their Mother, Heather Finegan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Olympics CT, 2666 State St., Hamden, CT 06517.
Lee’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Wethersfield. For funeral service information please visit farleysullivan.com.
*To Watch Mass of Christian Burial Live Stream*
START AT 11:00 AM, Tuesday, August 4, 2020
CLICK PHOTOS & VIDEOS
CLICK WEBCAST
Elizabeth McKee Gallagher, 78, of Wethersfield, peacefully passed away Sunday, July 26th, 2020 after each family member was able to express their love and gratitude for her life’s work as Mother, Grandmother, Aunt and Sister-in-law. Born on February 25th, 1942 in Hartford, Connecticut, she was the daughter of the late John and Gertrude Reardon Gallagher. She is predeceased by her brother, John (Jack) Gallagher, and her beloved son, Christopher John Walters, whom she has missed so very, very much.
Elizabeth, fondly known to family and friends as Lee, grew up in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on Hollenbeck Avenue where her childhood days were spent fishing in the morning and swimming all afternoon. She was once selected to be the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting, only to be turned away later as the painter was looking for the young girl he had seen with the fiery red hair and matching spirit, and not the girl in bows and a pink dress that her mother switched her into.
Lee returned to Hartford after her father died on April 11th, 1946 so that her mother could work at Northwest-Jones Junior High School. Lee went on to graduate from high school at “The Mount” or Mount Saint Joseph’s Academy in 1960, obtained her B.A. from Our Lady of the Elms College in 1966, and earned her Master’s degree from Trinity College in 1972. She was a PhD Candidate at the University of Connecticut whose independent dissertation focused on the leadership and funding of the Hartford Public School system; proving how far ahead of her time she really was.
Employed as an elementary school teacher by the Hartford Public School system for 52 years, leaving only to begin her battle with breast cancer at the age of 75, Lee was known as “Mrs. Galli-gators.” Using skittles, light-up dinosaurs, and positive reinforcement to connect with her students, Lee was a master at getting children to read. She preferred the kids with behavioral challenges because she saw the light in every student. Lee also worked at night teaching English as a Second Language to help put her 4 children through college, following in her own Mother’s footsteps.
She was a loving and strong Irish Mother, loyal friend, and fun grandmother to her 7 grandchildren who flourished in her support. She treasured her relationship with Karen Gallagher, her sister-in-law, and her beloved nieces, Terry Gregoire and Patty Crispi to whom she was “Lee Lee” before even becoming a mother herself. Being a “lefty” herself, she believed left-handed people to be of higher intelligence, and as an avid knitter she knitted berry hats for babies, sweaters, scarves, and over 75 Christmas stockings for her family and friends. She loved watching Survivor with her granddaughter Emily, and was an avid fan of both Big Brother, Masterpiece Theater, and Downton Abbey. She read the “Irish Sports Page” every day (obituaries) and could answer most questions on Jeopardy. She believed in being honest, working hard, and the power of surrounding yourself and loved ones with kind people. She loved the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and UConn Basketball, and, as a life-long Democrat, was anxiously awaiting the upcoming election on November 3rd, 2020.
Lee is survived by her children, Elizabeth Enright and her husband, Michael Enright, of Wethersfield, Matthew Walters of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Patrick Walters and his Partner, Angel Crespo, of Ansonia, Connecticut, and her grandchildren Thea Walters, Michael Messina, Aidan Walters, Emily Messina, Tess Walters, Cathryn Walters and Christopher Patrick Walters, and their Mother, Heather Finegan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Olympics CT, 2666 State St., Hamden, CT 06517.
Lee’s funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Wethersfield. For funeral service information please visit farleysullivan.com.