Miriam A. Gallagher

LOWELL -- Miriam A. (O'Heir) Gallagher, 72, a lifelong resident of Belvidere and a tireless supporter of Lowell, its institutions and its children, died Friday morning, Sept. 2, at her home after a brief illness. She was the wife of Walter C. Gallagher, with whom she recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

She was born in Lowell, Dec. 22, 1932, 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 she lived on the same street her entire life.

Mrs. Gallagher 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 27-year career, in the Billerica Public Schools as a school librarian and later supervisor of Libraries.

Mrs. Gallagher was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church and a board member of the parish Women's Guild.

She was also active in many other civic organizations, including Girls, Inc., 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, Mrs. Gallagher received the Award for Exemplary Voluntarism from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation.

She had many close friends. She was a member of a bridge club that included the same group of high-school friends for 46 years. Her 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

Mrs. Gallagher was devoted to her family. She helped her father to raise her four younger siblings when her mother, and she then raised five children of her own.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her five children and their spouses, Walter and Karen Gallagher of Groton, Linda and Michael Kilbride of Pelham, Michael and Karen Gallagher of Northboro, Debra Gallagher and Peter Traversy of Cambridge, and David Gallagher of Watertown; eight grandchildren, Katherine and Michael Kilbride, Melissa, Bridget, Thomas, and Charles Gallagher, and Timothy and Joseph Traversy; a brother and sister-in-law, David and Judy O'Heir of North Hampton, N.H.; a sister, Katherine Van Greenby of Lowell; also several nieces and nephews.

She was also the sister of the late Albert and Edward O'Heir.