Jeanne F. (Leyden) Gallagher

PAXTON - Jeanne Frances (Leyden) Gallagher valued her faith, family and friends above all else. Jeanne married Frank L. Gallagher, Jr. on September 1, 1951, and they enjoyed a happy marriage filled with love and fun until his sudden passing in 1981. Together they raised and nurtured their four children while living in NJ, NY, and MA. Jeanne continued to live at home with her family throughout her later life in MD, PA and most recently Paxton, where she peacefully passed away in her sleep on Sunday, May 29, 2016. Born March 16, 1928 in West New York, NJ to Frances (Eck) and Harold Leyden, Jeanne grew up in northern NJ with the skyline of New York as a backdrop to her youth. Her early years were fascinating times with a childhood in the Depression, teen years during WWII and young married life as part of the post war boom. She attended St. Joseph of the Palisades High School and remained friends with her classmates her entire life. After graduation, she worked for the Bell Telephone Company. In her later years, Jeanne started a second career as a customer representative for the investment management company T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, successfully completing both the series 6 and 7 licensing exams. In addition to being a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, “Miss Jeanne” was the neighborhood grandmother for many children in her Timonium, MD community. Throughout her life she was known for her style and skills as a seamstress. Jeanne traveled the world with friends and family and treasured the memories of her trips. An avid reader, she particularly enjoyed the company of her friends in the Paxton Book Club. She will be greatly missed by her children and spouses: Terence and Constance Gallagher, Phoenix, AZ; Mary Jeanne and Kevin Anderson, Paxton, MA; Timothy Gallagher, Lindenwold, NJ; and Lawrence and Annalisa Gallagher, Chepachet, RI. She leaves her much loved grandchildren and great granddaughter: Andrew Anderson, Paxton; Ashley and Joseph McDermott, Cambridge; Brian Robinson Gallagher, Flagstaff; Rebecca Gallagher, Seattle; Carl Russell Gallagher, Denver; and Kathryn, Patrick and Decklyn Taylor, Sacramento. Jeanne had one sister, Doris Leyden Hirtz, who preceded her in death. Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours Wednesday, June 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, MA. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 2 at 11:00 AM at St. Columba’s Catholic Church, 18 Richards Avenue, Paxton, followed by a luncheon reception at her home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to St. Columba Parish, 10 Richards Avenue, Paxton, MA 01612 or Paxton Council on Aging, 17 West Street, Paxton, MA 01612.