Margaret Gallagher Miller, 82, of Scranton, died peacefully at home of natural causes on Thursday. She was the widow of Arthur Miller who died June 17, 1998. She returned from College Park, MD to her native Scranton in July 1999 when she became a member of St. Peter’s Cathedral parish.
Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Bridget Peyton Gallagher. After graduating from Scranton Central High School in 1947 she pursued a career in nursing by enrolling in Scranton State General Hospital School of Nursing where she obtained her R.N. in 1950. Subsequently, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953 from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree in Nursing Education and Administration in 1958 from Columbia University Teacher’s College, and later pursued additional graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh.
In her professional practice, she enjoyed a challenging as well as diversified experience, spending fifteen years with the Veterans Administration Hospitals in the Bronx, NY, Washington, D.C., and her final four years as Chief Nurse at Ann Arbor, MI.
Leaving her government appointments in 1968, she entered the private sector concentrating on her efforts in Nursing Administration and Education. Successively, this career change brought her the joint positions of Associate Professor of Medical Surgical Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing plus the post of Director of Nursing at Presbyterian University Hospital. Four years later, 1972, she won another dual appointment as Dean of Nursing at George Washington University Hospital and Adjunct Associate Professor of Nursing at the Catholic University of America, both located in Washington, D.C.
In 1975, she was appointed Executive Director of the Maryland Nurses Association. Her principal accomplishment in that role over the next two years was to increase the number of districts which represented nurses practicing in the state from five to seven.
A new avenue opened for her in 1977 when Dr. Francis P. Chiaramonte invited her to join him in the opening of his newly founded Southern Maryland Hospital as the Director of Nursing. For the next seven years, she also continued to teach as a Visiting Lecturer in the Graduate Nursing Program of the University of Maryland at its Baltimore Campus. In 1984, she opened her own business as an expert consultant in Rehabilitation Nursing.
During her extensive career, she also conducted on the national scene, numerous Nursing Workshops on Nursing Administration and furthered new concepts in Nursing Education. As a result, she was frequently sought out as a nursing lecturer.
Margaret was a beloved sister, aunt, stepmother, step grandmother, cousin and friend. She was also a loving caregiver to her family and many friends through the years. She was selfless in sharing her time and talents with those she loved.
She will be remembered for her deep religious faith and her daily devotion to the rosary. She also will be remembered for her amazing strength in dealing with the complications and pain of rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years, heart disease and other ailments.
Surviving are a step-daughter Ann Marie Gumula; two step sons Arthur, Jr and Michael; five step grandchildren; two step great grandchildren all of Maryland; a brother Robert Gallagher and his wife Arleen of Dunmore; three sisters Catherine Jablonski and Mary Wagner both of Dunmore and Patricia Ingrasci of Scranton; many nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her brother Msgr. John P. Gallagher, Ph.D. in 2007 as well as her uncle the Servant of God, Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC the internationally known and revered Rosary priest.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10am in St. Peters Cathedral with Fr. Philip Rayappan of the Transfiguration Parish, West Hazleton as the principal celebrant.
Friends may call Monday morning at the Cathedral from 9am until time of Mass.
Interment, Cathedral Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Margaret wishes that any remembrances be in the form of prayers and Masses offered in her name.
Arrangements by the Vanston and James Funeral Home 1401 Ash St Scranton.