Obituary of Catherine E. Gallagher

Catherine E. Gallagher of Point Pleasant, formerly of Ridgefield Park, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, January 7th, 2023.

Cathy was born on May 8th, 1939 in New York City to the late Henry and Mary Zanne. She took immense pride in her Irish-French heritage and childhood neighborhood, Chelsea, NY where she grew up with her three siblings. She settled in Ridgefield Park with her loving husband Billy where they raised their three girls and made lifelong friends.

She was a realtor at Kay Callahan then in 1989 she and Billy ventured out on their own and established W.T. Gallagher & Associates, a real estate management company. 

Cathy loved a hot cup of coffee, a fresh deck of playing cards, a straw hat paired with her favorite sunglasses, and bright-colored clothes. You could find her riding in her yellow Cadillac, soaking up the sun at Bayhead Shores. She loved playing Poker or Pinochle with her friends and holding one of her seven grandchildren, and taking a long walk with her Irish twin, Ellen.

Above all, her greatest joy was summers spent at her shore house where on weekends it would be packed with loud New York accents, good music, laughter, and an abundance of friends that became family. 

Cathy was honest and unapologetically imperfect, which is why she connected with and was truly loved by so many. She was known for being a fierce protector of her friends and family and her spitfire personality filled every room from Pershing Court to Shore Boulevard. She was a wonderful “Nan” to her grandchildren who will forever remember and carry-on her love for argumentative debates, competitive card games, crabbing at the boat basin and long summer days at the beach swimming in the ocean.

Her legacy is survived by her three daughters Linda Margaritonda and husband Mark, Cathy VanGeldren and husband Tom, Lorraine Napolitano and husband Joe, her seven adored grandchildren Nicole, Billy, Matthew, Catie, Tommy, Nicholas, and Joseph and her nieces and nephews who lovingly call her “Aunt Cath,” who she loved immensely.

Predeceased by her husband William Gallagher of 57 years, sister Lorraine and husband Daniel DiArchangel, sister Ellen and husband Raymond Hegel, and brother Edward Zanne.

If desired, donations may be made to St. Francis Food Pantry, 114 Mt. Vernon Street, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 in her memory.

Cathy will be forever missed by everyone she touched.