Born in the Williamsburg Section of Brooklyn, N.Y., Rose Gallagher attended a Lithuanian Catholic School and parish taught by Irish Dominican nuns, and was of Italian ancestry. It was at that parish where Gallagher said she developed a love of ministry at an early age, then noted the she and her husband, Deacon Larry Gallagher, were married in that same church a little more than 47 years ago.

After the birth of their first daughter, Kimberly, Gallagher, resigned from her job as a secretary from the Mobil Oil Corporation where she and Larry first met. The family moved from Hightstown to Titusville and joined St. George Parish.

After sharing that she and Larry went on to become parents of five more children, Lawrence, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Amanda and Michael, Gallagher said her A love of music led her to become more involved in St. George Parish as a member of the Sunday choir and then the contemporary folk group “The Third Collection.” One of her favorite ministries was having the opportunity to sing with several other folk group members at the youth correctional facilities in Bordentown and Chesterfield.  As the years progressed, Gallagher went on to receive certification as a religious education catechist in which she taught third grade for one year and first grade for 23  years. She also received certification as a religious education administrator which enabled her to help run the parish’s religious education program for 23 years.

From 2005 until the present, Gallagher has served as the coordinator for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; the meeting facilitator for the worship committee, liturgy coordinator, co-Chairperson of the hospitality and picnic committees, a member of social concerns committee, the Tri-Parish Music Committee, pastoral council and as a reader. 

She noted that her love of music continues in the parish with her involvement as a cantor, member and coordinator of the funeral choir, singing with the Tri-Parish Festival Choir, Tri-Parish Contemporary Christian Choir and over the past 35 years, singing with the former “Third Collection,” now known as “Loose Change.” 

Over the years as a member of St. George parishioner, Gallagher said she has been blessed “by members of my St. George family without whom I could not have managed to continue in these ministries. 

“My greatest blessing though is my family,” she said, which now includes three sons-in-law, three step-granddaughters  and three step-great grandchildren.

Noting that she retired after working for 20 years as a paraprofessional in special education, Gallagher said she is grateful to be honored by the Mount Carmel Guild. She also extended appreciation to her pastor, Msgr. Michael J. Walsh, “for all he does to inspire and guide” the three parishes that comprise the Catholic Community of Hopewell Valley – St. George Parish, St. Alphonsus Parish, Hopewell, and St. James Parish, Pennington.