Mrs. Rosaleen Gallagher

IT is with great sadness that the communities of Crossgar and Ballynahinch learnt of the sudden passing of one of its popular residents, Rosaleen Gallagher.

Rosaleen passed away on March 3. Known to friends as Rosie, she was a member of the highly respected O’Hara family of Limavady and attended the local primary school in the town, Portstewart Convent and the local technical college.

She was a very kind, warm, loving and caring person who was devoted to her family and friends.

Rosie worked in her late parents’ bar in Market Street, Limavady, before commencing her nursing training at the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1972.

It was through one of her student nursing friends that she met and eventually married her husband Patrick.

After marrying, the couple settled in Ballynahinch and made many new friends. They brought up their daughters Keri and Clare in the town.

Rosie rose to the position of senior nursing sister tutor in the Royal Victoria Hospital and she also worked part-time in the Mater Hospital and in the community with various nursing agencies.

She had a unique gift and understood the pain and suffering of patients with whom she empathised. She volunteered to comfort and nurse the terminally ill during the last stages of their lives.

Rosie took a keen interest in poetry and enjoyed the works of the late Seamus Heaney.

She loved music and dancing and was a sociable lady, enjoying the company of her family and friends.

She also had a great love of animals, especially cats and dogs.

She is survived by her sorrowing and loving husband Patrick, daughter Keri and her partner Gerard, grandchildren Orla and Conn (Crossgar), daughter Clare, son-in-law Francis (Loughinisland), brother Stephen, sister-in-law Carmel and family (Dublin) sister-in-law Kathleen and family (Glenavy) and the Gallagher, Jess and Owens family circle.

Her Requiem Mass took place on Wednesday, March 5, at St. Patrick’s Church, Ballynahinch, and was celebrated by the Reverend Maurice Henry, from Crossgar Parish, who also officiated at the graveside in the adjoining cemetery.

Rosie’s popularity was evident through the large turnout at her funeral mass.