Maureen Patrice Gallagher

Maureen Patrice Gallagher, age 86, passed away on Wednesday January 22, 2025. Maureen was born in Chicago, IL on June 15, 1938, the eldest of fourteen children of the late James and Mary (nee; Lichtenfels) Gallagher.

She graduated from Trinity High School in River Forest, IL and earned degrees in English, Education, Theology, Art History and finally her PHD in Adult Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Through the years, Maureen worked in many positions in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, most notably as the Director of Catholic Education. On December 27, 1980, she was united in marriage to David Woeste. They shared twenty-two beautiful years, before David passed away in 2002. She was a dedicated member of St. Anthony On the Lake Catholic Church, Maureen was a strong leader, generous with her time and talents and always a dedicated teacher.

Maureen will be dearly missed by her siblings, Sr. Susanne Gallagher, S.P., Joseph (Jeanne) Gallagher, Kathleen Gallagher, Margaret (Bill) Gallagher-Smythe, Judee Gallagher, Gail Johnston, John Gallagher, Mark (Anne) Gallagher, Lorette Nuzzo and Michael Gallagher; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Maureen was also preceded in death by her siblings, Elaine, Jim and Rita.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony on the Lake Catholic Church, W280N2101 Prospect Avenue, Pewaukee, WI 53072, on Friday January 31, 2025. Friends may meet with the family at the church at 10:00 a.m. until the Mass at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Milwaukee. In lieu of flowers, memorials to The McGinnity Family Foundation (Mcginnityfamilyfoundation.org) have been suggested. The McGinnity Family Foundation provides seed grants of up to $5,000 to support the game-changing, socially innovative ideas of young people in addressing community-based challenges worldwide.

The family extends a special thank you to John Reid, Tom and Maggie McGinnity and AccentCare Inpatient Hospice Care at Lutheran Home-Wauwatosa for their loving and compassionate support.

Maureen’s Story

Maureen Gallagher was a born leader and a renaissance woman. She was the oldest of fourteen children. She lived the message of the gospel in many different ways throughout her life, as a Sinsinawa Dominican and lay person, She was married for 22 years to the love of her life, David Woeste until his death in 2002. She had a deep thirst for knowledge of all kinds on this earth and beyond. In her early days of teaching, she discovered the works of Teilhard de Chardin and the evolutionary story and she continued integrating faith, art, and science throughout her life. The beauty of the earth sustained her as did her deep respect for the dignity of every person she encountered, no matter who they were. She appreciated the marred but marvelous humanity we live.

Maureen was a born educator, highly intelligent, creative, inspiring, and always thirsting for knowledge. She was a collaborator, “in charge” but always in such a way the others felt encouraged to participate. Though highly educated in many fields, she remained down to earth. She was a trusted advisor to Archbishop Weakland, serving on his “Cabinet” as his Delegate for Parishes, and in the Office of Marriage and Family.

Maureen helped form the Waukesha Catholic School System, an effort that required her many and diverse gifts and skills, from developing and holding to a vison, to working out conflicts and coming to a consensus. She had a deep belief in Catholic Schools and the responsibility of parishes to sustain them. She had an inviting presence, a sense of the importance of the venture, a deep regard/respect for all the players, and not the least, she always had good humor that aided everyone to see this as a graced human enterprise.

Even in these latter years, when Maureen was clearer on the past than the present, she was still bringing up authors and ideas. Last found on her bedside table were the New York Times, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Astronomy magazine. At her retirement community she was known for her generosity. She revealed her true self by her generosity, taking other residents with wheelchairs to Mass, helping them with household chores, taking the “orders” to her from some with a laugh and good humor.

Family, friends and co-workers will remember Maureen for her hospitality. She was a gourmet cook. Until recently she held family Christmas dinners biennially, bringing gifts to grand nieces and nephews, always bringing her famous ‘baked brie’. She lightened planning and budget meetings with refreshments, always brought something to every party. No matter the occasion, David Woeste would say, “every meal, a feast”.

Maureen had the amazing ability of integrating God and spirt into everything - every part of life. There were no lines between the message of the Gospel and the most mundane task, the person right on front of her, the beauty of nature and the universe. It all fit together.

We miss you Maureen, but we appreciate the gift you have been and the friend you have been to all of us.