Anne Gallagher

Sister Anne Gallagher RSM (Sister Mary George, RSM) age 90, died Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia. She was born in Summit Hill, Carbon County, PA, the only child of John and Rita (Ward) Gallagher. She attended St. Joseph Elementary School, Summit Hill High School, and Allentown Business School. After graduation she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked as a clerk-stenographer at the Pentagon during World War II. Sister Anne entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1947 and professed her vows in 1949. She earned a B.A. in Humanities at Villanova University (1960) and an M.A. in Sociology at the Catholic University of America (1964). From 1949 to 1968 Sister worked at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in the Business Office, and later in the Medical Records Department, eventually becoming Director. Her other assignments included Admissions Director of Gwynedd-Mercy College (1968-73); Research Director for Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (1973-78); Parish Social Services Minister at Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Bryn Mawr (1978-81); Manager of Housing Repair and Development at Gesu Parish (1981-85); Parish Social Services Minister at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish (1986-96); Bookkeeper at Philadelphians Concerned About Housing (1996-98). For six years (1976-81) Sister wrote and published the Sisters of Mercy Community Newsletter. She also served for a time at McAuley Institute for Housing in Silver Spring, Maryland and in the Business Office at Walsingham Academy in Williamsburg, VA. After her retirement in 1998, Sister volunteered in the library at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia and in the soup kitchen at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, as long as her health permitted. In the last few years she provided hospitality for the West Philadelphia Reflection Ministry held at her convent on Cedar Avenue. Services for Sister Anne Gallagher will be Monday, April 15 at the Convent of Mercy Chapel, Merion, with a viewing from 6:00 - 7:00 pm followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 7:00 pm. Burial in the Community Cemetery will private. Contributions in Sister Anne Gallagher's memory may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy Mid-Atlantic Community, 515 Montgomery Avenue, Merion, PA 19066. Contact: Sister Anne DeConcini 215-471-7260