Sheila Marjorie Gallagher

1956 - 2022

Gallagher, Sheila Marjorie SARATOGA SPRINGS After bringing us 65 years of joy, Sheila Marjorie Gallagher, born on September 29, 1956, passed away on March 14, 2022, at Saratoga Hospital, after a struggle with Guillian Barr Syndrome. Born with a mild developmental disability, Sheila lived a rich life with her supportive parents, Orvoell Roger Gallagher (deceased, 1975), and Elizabeth "Betty" Gallagher (alive and well), and her three siblings, Michael, Maureen, and David. Sheila grew up mostly in Saratoga Springs, but she spent many cherished years at Maplebrook School in Amenia, N.Y., a school for children with learning disabilities. She then went on to Chapel Haven in New Haven, Conn., during her high school years. After working in one of the labs at Yale University for a few years, she made her way back to Saratoga Springs where she became a resident at Living Resources, where she had her most important job working at the public library re-shelving books. One of her favorite activities was participating in the Living Resources art program. As a youth she traveled most summers with her family on various camping trips, and cabin stays in the Adirondack Mountains. Sheila took great joy in a variety of activities including stamp collecting, doing crossword puzzles, beadwork, needlepoint, drawing, and listening to music. She was an accomplished needle-pointer, and left us all with some beautiful pieces of work. Best of all, she loved spending time with her family, and especially her five nieces and nephews, Roger, Elisa, Aaron, Garnet and Corry. Sheila had a formidable advocate in her mother, Betty Gallagher, and because of her, she had a rich life that reached its full potential. For the past two years Sheila had been a resident of the Wesley Nursing Home, where she struggled with many health challenges, but she kept her sunny disposition and stayed connected with her family through visits, Zoom and phone calls. Listening to music on her iPad was a source of great joy. The family is indebted to Living Resources, Maplebrook School, and Chaplel Haven, where much of her nurturing took place, and to Wesley Nursing Home, as well as her many friends in the community. A private celebration of her life will occur later in the spring.