Patricia Ann Lytle Gallagher, age 85, formerly of Detroit, Michigan and New York City, died peacefully on November 5, 2010 at Sunrise in Peabody.
Pat was born in 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Leonard and Mary Agnes (McDonald) Lytle. She was the loving wife of the late James Francis Gallagher, the mother of Tara, mother-in-law of Stephen Young, and grandmother of Dylan, Nathan and Joshua Young, all of Swampscott. She was the caring sister of George, Robert, Rosemary and John Lytle, all of whom predeceased her. Pat was devoted to her extended family and will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, siblings-in-law and friends.

After receiving a college degree from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan, Pat pursued a life-long love of literature receiving three Masters Degrees from Michigan's Wayne State University (English Literature) and Columbia University (Remedial Reading and Educational Psychology). She was an English teacher and reading specialist for the New York City public school system for 15 years and later served as a volunteer docent for the New York Public Library's special exhibitions. In recent years, as a resident of Sunrise at Gardner Park in Peabody, Pat hosted short story sessions for the other residents. Earlier in her career she also taught at St. Joseph's School for the Deaf in New York City and worked in personnel. She loved to travel and, as a young woman, biked through Europe to participate in the rebuilding after World War II.

Her funeral will be held on Monday, November 8, 2010 at 10:00 A.M in ST Thomas the Apostle Church, 260 North St., Salem (on the Salem Peabody line). Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. in the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor of North ST) Salem. Private Interment services will be held at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made in Patricia's memory to the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building atThe New York Public Library. You may send , Your gift to: The New York Public Library, Friends Office, 476 Fifth Avenue, Room M6, New York, NY, 0018, Att: Stephen Ferrell, Please include a note which indicates that the gift is in memory of Patricia Gallagher. For online guest book or additional information please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com .