Elizabeth Gala

Elizabeth Gala
February 14, 1928 ~ August 15, 2010

Name: Elizabeth Hall Gala
Life Dates: 2/14/1928 - 8/15/2010
City Of Birth: Rochester, NY
Pre-deceased by
She was predeceased by her husband, James M. Gala, Sr., from Melfi Italy, and by her beloved nephew Daniel Hall.
History
Elizabeth is survived by her son, Gary Jek Gala and his wife Elizabeth Barthold Dreesen; her son, Paul John Vincent Gala and his wife Linda Krause Gala; her brother, Charles Paul Hall and his wife Irene Jane Edwards Hall; their twelve children, many great and great great grand nieces and nephews, friends, and her two Siamese "girls" Dixie and Daisy.
Elegy for My Mother
Gary J Gala
Elizabeth Hall Gala
Born: Valentines Day 1928
Died: August 15, 2010
I suppose there is no great
tragedy here.
No one to cry
"The King is Dead!"
and all that.
No big write up
in The New York Times
complete with stanzas
and Times Roman numerals
and pictures from many years ago
with people all smiling.
No, I suppose
the world will not much
mark her passing.
No moment of silence
no national day of mourning
no television crews languorously
brushing their hair, and waiting.
But for those who knew her
a shudder has passed
through the spine of the world.
The stars have paused in their path.
The moon has dimmed just a bit.
The deer have stopped
in the forest and sniffed
the air now not quite
as sweet as lavender.
In the next morning I awoke
my eyelids raised of their own free will.
The squirrels were already working
the cat already asleep
the birds were without lament
and the grasses were singing.
The butterflies aloft
some lilies thought of opening,
and the water justfalling,
as it is wont to do.
I lie there waiting,
waiting for your ghost to appear
to see you standing in the door
and waving, waving goodbye.
"Safe Journey Home"
you would say
as the night sky came on
and the sun simply walked away.
Donations
Memorial gifts may be made to your local animal shelter in memory of Elizabeth H. Gala.
Services
A private memorial mass for friends and family will be held on September 11, 2010, at St. Lawrence Church in Rochester, New York at 10:00 a.m. followed by a graveside service.
Additional Information
Fittingly, she was born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1928 in Rochester, New York, daughter of Helena Jane McGrath, originally of Belfast, Ireland and Charles W. Hall of North Moreton, Oxfordshire, England. She graduated from Mercy High School and lived most of her life in Rochester, New York until she moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina in 2004 to be nearer to her sons.
Elizabeth was a self-made woman, working for many years as a bookkeeper at Kodak and then devoting herself to raising her two sons. Her father was the stableman of George Eastman and was known in Rochester as a horse whisperer. Elizabeth's family believes that she inherited this gift and was herself a cat whisperer, especially gifted in the language of the Siamese. Always, though, her most important work was as an advisor, advocate, and confidant for friends and family, nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends of neighbors. No problem was too small for her to thoroughly consider it, and no problem was too big to intimidate her. Even as she watched her adored John Wayne movies, she would answer the telephone expecting that the caller needed help, advice or just to talk. One of her favorite pastimes was television and movies--she was a certified Trekkie and could probably have recited the entire screenplay of one of her favorite movies, The Outlaw Jose Wales. Being a fashion aficionado, she often gave guidance on the topic whether it was asked for or not.
Elizabeth was a generous, curious, energetic person who became a connoisseur of Oriental rugs, Waterford crystal, jewelry, and black coffee so strong that her spoon stood up in it. Well-mannered and proper, she never left the house without a hat. Always up for an adventure, Elizabeth traveled widely throughout her life - including Europe, Ireland, and cross-country in the US. As your journey after life continues " May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand."