LOWELL—Miriam A. (O’Heir) Gallagher, a lifelong resident of Belvidere and a tireless supporter of Lowell, its institutions, and its children, died early Friday morning, September 2nd, at her home after a brief illness. She was the beloved wife of Walter C. Gallagher, with whom she recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
She was born in Lowell, on December 22, 1932, a daughter of the late Edward and Miriam (Lannan) O’Heir. Her grandfather founded A.E. O’Heir Furniture, a downtown Lowell institution from 1890 until 1950. The O’Heir family occupied an 18th century farm house in Belvidere for many years and Miriam lived on the same street for her entire life.
She was a graduate of Lowell High School as a Carney Medalist, in 1950. She attended Simmons College and graduated from Lowell State Teacher’s College, in 1954. She later received her certificate in library science from Northeastern University, and a master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis on technology, from Fitchburg State College. She began her teaching career in Tewksbury and later taught the Title I Program in the Lowell schools in its inaugural year. She spent most of her career, 27 years, in the Billerica Public Schools as a school librarian and then supervisor of Libraries.
Mrs. Gallagher was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church and a board member of the parish Women’s Guild.
Giving back to the community was a tenet in Miriam’s life. She volunteered for many Lowell organizations. Until earlier this year, she was the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Pollard Memorial Library. She helped to found the Pollard Memorial Library Foundation, and she and her fellow trustees led the effort to restore the library to its’ 19th century grandeur. She served on the board of Lowell Telecommunications as secretary, and was chair of its outreach program. She was on the board of the Lowell Bilingual Education program, in its early years. She was active in many other civic organizations, including Girls, Inc., where she was a volunteer; the Spindle City Garden Club; the Lowell Garden Club; Reading is Fundamental; Retired Educators of Massachusetts, where she sat on the board; the Ladies of St. John’s Hospital; the League of Catholic Women; the College Club of Greater Lowell; and the American Association of University Women.
In June of 2005, Miriam received the Award for Exemplary Voluntarism from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.
She had many dear, lifelong friends. She was a member of a bridge club that included the same group of high school friends for 46 years. Her beloved coffee club began when her children were young and lasted for more than 40 years. More recently, she joined new friends and old in a knitting club.
Miriam was a devoted to family. She helped her father to raise four younger siblings when her mother died at a young age, and then raised five children of her own. She was a caring and generous grandmother to eight grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Walter C. Gallagher, of Lowell; her children and their spouses: Walter and Karen Gallagher, of Groton; Linda and Michael Kilbride, of Pelham, NH; Michael and Karen Gallagher, of Northboro; Debra Gallagher and Peter Traversy, of Cambridge; and David Gallagher, of Watertown; her grandchildren: Katherine and Michael Kilbride; Melissa, Bridget, Thomas, and Charles Gallagher, and Timothy and Joseph Traversy; her brother and sister-in-law: David and Judy O’Heir, of North Hampton, NH; her sister: Katherine Van Greenby, of Lowell; also several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 3 until 8 PM Tuesday, September 6th, at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, (Rte.38). Her Funeral Mass to be offered Wednesday, September 7th, at 11 AM at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH. Burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury. Donations in her memory may be made to the Pollard Memorial Library Foundation, 401 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852, where a permanent memorial will be made in her name.