Submitted by: Dan Rich

Henrietta Antoinette Gallagher

Oct. 10, 1923 - Oct. 27, 2008

South Bend Tribune 10/29/2008

SOUTH BEND - Henrietta Antoinette Gallagher, 85, of South Bend, IN, passed away on October 27, 2008 after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Born October 10, 1923 in South Bend, she was the daughter of the late Henry and Antoinette (Gapinski) Kopczynski. She attended Central High School, and other than following her husband to Southern California while he was stationed as a Marine at Camp Pendleton, she spent her entire life in South Bend-except of course, for her recent warm winters at Tidevue Estates in Ellenton, FL. On June 8, 1946, she married the love of her life, Edward R. Gallagher, an alumni of the fabled Notre Dame Class of '44. They were married in Holy Cross Church, on Wilbur Street, and later renewed their vows in the Log Chapel at Notre Dame - twice. He preceded her in death in 1999, along with her beloved son, Michael R. Gallagher, who passed in 1998. Henrietta is survived by her loving son, Patrick S. Gallagher of Stonington, CT, and New York, NY; two brothers, Henry and James Kopczynski, both of South Bend; her beloved sister, Dorothy (Mrs. Stuard) Parks of West Virginia and numerous nieces and nephews. She enjoyed her warm winters with family and friends in Tidevue Estates in Ellenton, FL. Mrs. Gallagher was actively involved in the St. Joseph's Hospital Women's Auxiliary and the Christ Child Society - she personally sewed and painted 1,300 "Pinkie Puppies" that were given to the children in the hospital. After her husband passed, she took over his job as treasurer, and became the defacto treasurer of Notre Dame's Class of '44, organizing the annual football weekend Class of '44 reunion. Henrietta kept herself active her entire lifetime - working in the furniture department of Robertson's, sewing all of her own clothes, quilting unique bedcovers, traveling with her husband to China, Yugoslavia, Europe and throughout the United States and until recently, tap dancing.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame on Thursday, October 30 at 3:30 p.m. Friends may call beforehand from 1 to 3 p.m. on that Thursday, at the McGann Hay, Forest G. Hay Chapel, 435 South Ironwood Drive, South Bend, and join in the procession to the Basilica. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Christ Child Society, 308 S Scott St., South Bend, IN 46601 or the Holy Cross Village Foundation, 54515 State Road 933, P.O. Box 706, Notre Dame, IN 46556.