Mary Catherine Gallacher, known lovingly to all as Mary, was born Dec. 11, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. From the very beginning, music was the heartbeat of her life. As a teen, she performed in New York City alongside her cousin, with Mary on violin and her cousin performing Irish step dance, culminating in an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show — a cherished highlight of her early years. Mary earned a scholarship to Marywood University to study music, where her life blossomed both personally and professionally. It was there she met the love of her life, George, with whom she would share 65 beautiful years of marriage. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, in addition to being a dedicated educator. Mary taught in the Scranton School District for more than 40 years, inspiring generations of students with her passion, discipline, and kindness. She served as director of The Interludes, a local choral group, for more than 20 years. She also directed the St. Paul’s Choir and managed the Audubon String Quartet. She played violin with various Irish groups both in Scranton and, later, in Delray Beach, Florida, where she and George spent their winters. Even in retirement, Mary remained committed to nurturing young musicians. She stayed active with Marywood’s Youth String Program, continuing to teach, mentor, and inspire. A passionate fan of Broadway musicals, she directed many local productions and traveled to New York City every chance she got. She rarely missed an opportunity to see a show. Her love of theater, movies, and storytelling was infectious, and she shared it with friends, family, and students alike. She also traveled the world, collecting memories and experiences that shaped her warm, open-hearted view of life. Mary had an incredible ability to turn any situation into a story. She lived a life filled with joy, mischief, and punchlines that somehow always landed. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Norah and Jay Crawford, and her brothers, James and John. She is survived by her devoted husband, George; her three children, Ann Marie Keating and her husband, Timothy; Patricia Gallacher; and Michael Gallacher and his wife, Chris Gallacher (Dymek); her beloved granddaughter, Caitlyn Gallacher; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mary’s legacy lives on not just in the music she played or the choirs she directed, but in every student she mentored, every family member she adored, and every soul lifted by her kindness, talent, and unwavering joy for life. It was a life filled with love, lived in harmony. Mary was called home to the Lord, surrounded by her loving family, at Willowbrook Place in Clarks Summit, Pa. The family would like to thank Willowbrook Place and Residential Hospice in Moosic, Pa., for their compassionate care. The family invites donations to local music education programs or youth orchestras in Mary’s memory. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Clare’s Church, 2251 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at 11 a.m. Friends may call at the church from 10 to 11 a.m., prior to the Mass. Inurnment will follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow, Pa. Arrangements are by McGoff-Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1401 Capouse Ave., Scranton, Pa.

Visitation

Funeral Services

 

Guestbook

 

Sign Guestbook Add your condolences by signing the guestbook.