FRANKLIN—Mrs. Jeannie M. (Pollock) Gately 77, a longtime resident of Franklin died at the home of her daughter on Saturday June 2, 2007 following a long illness. She was the wife of the late Robert E. Gately who died in 1972.
Born in Hamilton, Scotland December 24, 1929 a daughter of the late Gavin and Margaret (Nichols) Pollock she was raised in Scotland and also lived in London, England before coming to America in 1954 and settling in California.
She moved to Franklin in 1972 and was a graduate of Franklin High School. She then entered Dean Jr. College with her daughter and they both graduated in 1976 which was the first time in the schools history of a mother and daughter graduating at the same time. She continued her education at Framingham State College and received a bachelors degree in Sociology and received her Masters degree in Geriatric Counseling.
Mrs. Gately worked for many years at the South Weymouth Naval Air Station as a Family Service coordinator. She also worked for many years at St. Mary’s Rectory in Franklin. She was a volunteer for many activities in the Franklin, Bellingham and Wrentham area.
Her hobbies and interests included gardening, traveling and spending time with her family.
She was a member of the Daughters of Scotia, the Legion of Mary, a communicant of St. Mary’s Church, and a Gold Star Wife. She was awarded the British Empire Medal for Heroism, after the 1955 flood in Marysville, California. It was awarded to her by Queen Elizabeth in 1955.
She is survived by 2 sons Edward W. Gately and his wife Patti of Bellingham, Thomas J. Gately and his wife Jessica of Uxbridge, 3 daughters Coral B. Passaglia and her husband Michael of California, Bonnie Cameron and her husband Thomas of Franklin and Margaret J. Woodward and her husband Matthew of Bellingham, a brother Thomas N. Pollock of Canada, and a sister Catherine Eastwood of England.
Also surviving are her grandchildren Teal, Trea and Nick Passaglia, Kerry, Patrick and Katie Cameron, Elise, Ben and Sarah Gately, Matt and Chloe Woodward, Molly and Tommy Gately. Also surviving is a granddaughter Alexandria Marie Moore.
She was the sister of the late James, Margaret, Lily, Gavin, William, Elizabeth, Annie, Ella Pollock.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral on Tuesday June 5, 2007 at 10:15AM from the Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. (www.franklinfuneral.com) with a funeral Mass at 11AM at St. Mary’s Church 1 Church Sq. Interment will follow in the family lot in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Calling hours are Monday June 4, 2007 from 4-8PM at the funeral home.
If desired donations in her memory sent to Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice 3 Edgewater Dr. Norwood, MA 02062 would be appreciated.