GALLAGHER, Catherine Rita (Cassidy) 1928-2013
GALLAGHER, CASSIDY, BUELOW, BEECHER, KAIN, BRADY, ROWELL
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/11/2014 at 23:56:15
[Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Friday, October 18, 2013]
Catherine Rita Cassidy Gallagher, 85, of Waterloo, died Oct. 14, 2013, at Allen Hospital with her loving husband and family at her side.
She was born on June 8, 1928, in Dubuque, to Leo and Clara Buelow Cassidy. She graduated as class valedictorian from St. Columbkille’s High School, Dubuque, in 1946. On Dec. 29, 1948, she married Edward J. Gallagher Jr. at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church. Cathy and Ed first lived in Washington, D.C., where she worked for the National Catholic Welfare Conference while Ed was obtaining his law degree at Georgetown University Law Center.
Ed and Cathy were blessed with three children and six grandchildren.
Cathy attended Clarke University and graduated cum laude from the University of Northern Iowa in 1977 with a BA in political science. In 2001, she received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Clarke University.
Cathy was involved in many community organizations in the Waterloo and Cedar Falls area. She was a board member of the Junior Service League (now Junior League of Waterloo Cedar Falls), past president of the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Guild, past president of Covenant Hospital Auxiliary, member of PEO Chapter MR, and Columbus High School Hall of Fame. She was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and served as one of its first councilors in Northern Iowa. Cathy served on the Board of Trustees of Clarke University. In 2010 Cathy along with her husband Ed received the “Eight over Eighty” award from the Waterloo Daily Courier which honors outstanding individuals for lifetime achievements in the community.
Cathy was a partner in Gallagher Realty and served as secretary/treasurer of the Gallagher Family Foundation. For many years she kept the books and did payroll for Ed’s law firm.
One of her biggest joys was helping to make the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Art Center a reality for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls community. She also served as an appointed permanent member of its advisory board.
Surviving are her husband of 64 years; their children and spouses, Edward J. Gallagher III (Waterloo), Mary Kay (John) Beecher (Waterloo) and Sheila (Stan) Kain (Dubuque); grandchildren are Michael Beecher (Waterloo), Matthew and (Genevieve) Beecher (Eugene, Ore.), Elise Talacek (Bensenville, Ill.), Gail Gallagher (Chicago), Kathryn Beecher (Dubuque) and Joseph Gallagher (Waterloo). Also surviving her are sisters Patricia Brady (Rockville, Md.) and Pauline (Bob) Rowell (Dubuque); and sister-in-law Norma Cassidy (Davenport). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary Virginia, and a brother, John.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Public visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway, where there will be a 4 p.m. rosary and a 7 p.m. vigil. There will also be visitation at the church on Monday for an hour before services.
Memorials may be given in her name to St Edward’s Catholic Church, Cedar Valley Catholic Schools or the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony.
Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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