Obituary of Suzanne Donnelly Galligan

Suzanne Donnelly Galligan passed away on February 12, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was 74 years old. 

Suzanne was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on April 5, 1948, to William Francis Donnelly and Suzanne Bracken Donnelly. The oldest of four children, she attended Catholic schools culminating with her French degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.  While attending college, she met her husband, Peter, of 52 years. They were married in Cranford, New Jersey, at St. Michael Catholic Church on September 5, 1970.  

Suzy became a full-time mom and homemaker upon the arrival of their first son, Patrick. Their four subsequent children – Katie, Meg, Dan and Moira – arrived after Peter and Suzy moved to Jacksonville, Florida. The family moved to Dallas in 1984 where they joined Christ the King parish and the family continued to live out their faith by actively participating in daily Mass, rosaries and supporting the children’s Catholic education. 

A wonderful mother and dedicated wife, Suzy was well-known for her baked goods, soups for the sick, and prayers. When people needed help preparing food for a family in crisis or cookies for a bake sale, they called Suzy. And when they needed God’s help, they called Suzy, too. Her rosaries were a powerful intercessory tool on behalf of others.  

Suzy’s greatest enjoyment was attending her grandchildren’s sporting, dance and school events. She loved passing on her faith to them by praying with them, and bringing them to daily Mass. Her love for them was demonstrated in the personalized quilts she designed and sewed for each of her first twelve grandchildren, completing one in the last month of her life. 

She was active in Altar Society and Bible Study at Christ the King until their recent move to Fort Worth. Suzy never met a stranger and delighted in connecting with neighbors as she walked her daily miles. 

She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Jeanne Doll. She is survived by a big and adoring family:  husband, Peter Galligan; son Patrick Galligan, daughter Katie Ruschman and husband William Ruschman, daughter Meg Graham and husband Dave Graham, son Dan Galligan and wife Ann Crain, daughter Moira McGlinchey and husband Patrick McGlinchey; and their thirteen beloved grandchildren (Will, Maddie, Michael, Elle, Sean, Genevieve, Lucy, Annie, Miro, Alex, Patrick, Ella and Mary Kate); sister Fran Donnelly Kamstra and brother Bill Donnelly. 

A funeral mass will be held for Suzy at St. Andrew Catholic Church (3312 Dryden Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76109) on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at 1:00pm. A rosary for Suzanne will be held 30 minutes prior to the mass. The burial will be held Monday, February 20th at 1pm at Greenwood Cemetery. 

Suzanne was loved by many and will be dearly missed.