Thelma Barden Gallagher

Thelma Barden Gallagher died on December 24, 2009. Thelma was the third of eleven children of Reginald and Elsie Albee Barden, born in Columbia County Wisconsin.

Thelma was a hard-working woman all her life, and had a loving heart and a sweet nature. She worked as cook and baker in other people's homes when she was young, and met and married Pat in 1941.

When he went to war, she and her sister Dorothy lived together in Milwaukee, working at Pabst brewery and sharing the raising of their children.

When Pat returned home, she focused on home and family life. In the 1960's she went to work for Ace Foods at the Briggs & Stratton factory where she was employed for thirty years, retiring in 1998.

After retiring from Ace, she moved to New Hampshire to be with Nancy's family and lived with them almost until the end of her life.

She was kind and patient, with a generous heart, and was loved and appreciated by all who knew her. Her strong faith in God helped to enhance the joys of life and ease its difficulties. Her family is grateful that now her time of pain and confusion is over, but they will miss her so very much.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald "Pat" Gallagher, and siblings Maurice Barden of Pardeeville, WI, Dorothy Bruessel of Mequon, WI, and Ronald Barden of Janesville, WI.

She is survived by her daughters, Rita Randa and husband Bill, and Nancy Burbank and husband Jim; granddaughters Donna Randa-Gomez and husband Bob, Alissa Burbank, and Anna Burbank; brothers, Ralph Barden and wife Betty, Stuart Barden and wife Shirley, and Howard Barden and wife Rhoda; sisters, Myrna Peters, Ruth Larsen, Maxine Erickson, and Donna Wenzel and husband Karl; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and burial will be scheduled in the spring at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee.