Rita M. (Martin) Gallagher

Holyoke--Rita M. (Martin) Gallagher, 96, peacefully entered eternal rest on the morning of November 9, 2020. Born August 31, 1924, in Springfield, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Catherine (O'Shea) Martin. At the age of nine, Rita and her family returned to Ireland where she was raised in Ventry, Kerry, eventually marrying and raising her five children in Dublin. In 1968 she returned to Springfield where she was employed by the Diocese of Springfield for many years before moving to Belchertown and then settling in Holyoke. Following her time at Our Lady of Hope, Rita was an active communicant at St. Francis of Assisi, where she served as a Eucharistic minister. She belonged to the former Spiritual Life Commission, the Madjegorie Prayer Group, and St. Michael's Franciscan Fraternity. Rita loved the live performance of Irish music and dance and was an avid Red Sox fan. Rita will be dearly missed by her two surviving children, Rita Gallagher-Smith and her husband, Gerald, of Huntington; Marie A. Bronder and her husband, Robert, of Wisconsin; and her brother, John J. Martin and his wife, Maureen, of West Springfield. She also leaves eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law Mary Gallagher; sons-in-law Gerald Maleckas and Steven Goodrow; and nieces and nephews, both stateside and in Ireland. Rita is preceded in death by her children, Michael J. Gallagher, Catherine M. Maleckas, and Eileen T. Goodrow; her brothers Michael and Bernard Martin; and sisters Katheleen Kelly and Eileen O'Shea. For everyone's health and safety, services will be privately held for family. A Funeral Mass at St. Francis of Assisi will be available via live stream Thursday, Nov. 12th at 11:00 a.m. by clicking https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/361390548. Burial to follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the St. Pio Fraternity, 281 Chauncey Walker Street, Lot 569, Belchertown, MA 01007.