(1938-2026)

Sister Maureen Gallagher, formerly known as Sister Marie Helen, died on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 87 years of age and in the 69th year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Maureen was born in Chicago to Donald and Helen (Loftus) Gallagher. She graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy in St. Charles, Illinois; obtained a bachelor’s degree in history from Barry College (University) in Miami, Florida; and earned a master’s degree in urban planning from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois.

Sister Maureen spent 18 years ministering in education in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and in Chicago, Illinois. She served the City of Chicago’s Department of Development as a planning aide, and the Department of Housing as an urban planner and later an evaluation director, for a total of six years. She also ministered for two years as housing coordinator for St. Martin de Porres House of Hope and later for one year for the Chicago Coalition for Homeless, both homeless shelters in Chicago. 

She was the founder and served 10 years as national director for Mary’s Pence in Chicago and was also creator and religious radio broadcaster for “Voices” for four years in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Sister Maureen volunteered for two years at Little Company of Mary Hospital and one year at the Art Institute, both in Chicago. She also ministered for more than 13 years as marketing director for Centro Santa Catalina in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. She became a resident of the Dominican Life Center in 2019.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Donna Breen; and a brother, John Gallagher. She is survived by a brother, Terrance Gallagher (Loretta); a sister, Joan Haeger (David); other loving family members; and her Adrian Dominican Sisters.

Visitation will be held from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026, in the gathering space of St. Catherine Chapel. The Vigil Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30, 2026, in St. Catherine Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Prayers of Committal will be held in the Congregation Cemetery at a later date. 

Those who are not attending services in person are welcome to participate via live stream at https://adriandominicans.org/Live-Stream.

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Beck’s Tribute Center, Edmonds, Washington.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

 

 

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Maureen's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Maureen's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

 

LEFT: Maureen Gallagher, in back, with her siblings, Joan, left, and John, 1950. MIDDLE: 1956 high school graduate of Mount St. Mary’s Academy, St. Charles, Illinois. RIGHT: Back, from left, Sisters Maureen Gallagher and Esther Kennedy, and in front, Sister Marjorie Delaplane.

MIDDLE: Sister Beverly Bobola, left, and Sister Maureen Gallagher, her guest, attend the Year of the Rooster celebration at Bellagio-Las Vegas, 2005. RIGHT: Sister Maureen Gallagher, left, with Sandra Laudo, President of the Centro Santa Catalina Cooperative, Mexico, 2011.

RIGHT: Members of the St. Martin de Porres Crowd gather in 2018 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Sister Pauline Opliger. Shown are, standing in back, from left, Sisters Jeanne Lefebvre, Jean Tobin, Rosario Martín, Mary Margaret Mannard, Jean Crane, Grace Dougherty, Joan Mehney, and Peg O’Flynn. Seated in front, from left, are Sisters Marie Luisa Vasquez, Maureen Gallagher, and Pauline Opliger.

Members of the 2016 Diamond Jubilee June Crowd are: back row, from left, Sisters Margaret “Peg” O’Flynn, Catherine Camille DeClercq, Jean Crane, Grace Dougherty, and Grace Henneberry; fourth row, from left, Sisters Mary Margaret Mannard, Mary Plunkett, Marian Castelluccio, Attracta Kelly (Prioress), and Donna Joan Mehney; third row, from left, Sisters Jeanne Lefebvre, Patricia Downey, Maureen Gallagher, and Mary Kathryn Cliatt; second row, from left, Sisters Marie Luisa Vasquez, Mary Catherine Gagliano, Jean Tobin, and Rosario Martín; and front row, from left, Sisters Pauline Opliger and Sally Ann Fergus.  

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