Betty Galleher Rooney of Amenia, NY, died on July 5, 2016 at Sharon Hospital in Sharon, CT surrounded by her loving family. She was 83 years old.
Betty was born in Washington, DC to Gertrude Wright and George Albert Galleher. She grew up in Washington, DC and later in Falls Church, Virginia. On October 25, 1952 she married John E. (Jack) Rooney of Norwalk, CT and Amenia, NY at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington, DC, who survives at home. Betty met her husband when he worked for the main post office in Washington, DC and she worked at Fort Myer, a U.S. Army post in Arlington, Virginia. Prior to working at Fort Myer as an executive secretary, Betty worked in The Pentagon. They moved to Amenia in 1955 to raise their family when her husband Jack was offered a position in the Amenia post office. In addition to raising her five children, Betty was also an executive secretary to Dr. David Grendon in Sharon, CT for many years and then worked for Infection Control in Sharon Hospital. She also worked for Dedrick Insurance Agency in Amenia, was a Vice President of Sales for the Busy Bee Company in Torrington, CT and Park Lane Jewelry. Following a heart attack and quadruple bypass surgery in October 1992, Betty took a break from work and became passionately involved in the Mended Hearts organization and headed a chapter in Connecticut for several years. It wasn’t long before her tireless spirit and energy drove her to become more involved in her community. She was a founding member and served as both Vice President and President of ImagineAmenia, a grass-roots organization promoting civic engagement. Betty was passionate about her community and volunteered her time to many organizations including the Amenia Affordable Housing Committee and St. Joseph’s Church in Lithgow. She returned to work in 2006 for her daughter Maureen’s graphic design agency, Rooney Design Group, until 2008.
Betty is survived by her husband, Jack, her children Kevin Rooney, Maureen Rooney, Carol Rooney Cummings and Michael Rooney, all of Amenia; 10 grandchildren, Kerry Rooney, Daire Rooney (and James Corcoran), Caitrin (and Alexander) Harney, Brendan (and Joy) Rooney, Kealan Rooney, John (and Charissa) Rooney, Adelaide Rooney (and Parker Harrington), Siobhan Rooney (and Joel Colley) Sean Rooney and Darragh (and Joanna) Rooney; step-grandchildren Joad Bowman and Arianne (and Michael) Miller; seven great-grandchildren, Heidi Tallman, Jack and Karson Smith, Gabriele and Rafael Rooney, and Gavin and Lily Colley; step-grandchildren Pearl and Lulu Bowman, and Jacob, Seamus, Nathan and Kira Miller. She also leaves her aunt, Grace Trollinger, many cousins, nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and countless friends, especially Evelyn Tompkins and Alice Palmer. She was predeceased by her parents, Gertrude and George Galleher, her sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Francis (Buddy) Marsden, and her son, Dennis Rooney, who passed away in April 2016.
It was Betty’s wish that there be no calling hours. A funeral mass will be offered on Saturday, July 9th at 11:00 am at St. Bernard’s Church, 52 New Street, Sharon, CT. Internment of her ashes will be held immediately following at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Route 22, Amenia. A reception will be held for family and friends immediately afterwards at Maureen Rooney’s home, 5111 Route 22 in Amenia.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Edward J. Madden Open Hearts Camp, 250 Monument Valley Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 (hearts@openheartscamp.org Tel: (413) 528-2229). To send a condolence, please visit http://www.hufcutfuneralhome.com .
