Sally Gallagher

Sally Anne Gallagher, 74, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away from natural causes in her home on May 31, 2022. Sally was born on January 2, 1948, to Walter and Gwen Coe of Rockford, IL. She attended Rockford West High School, where she was a member of many clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society, the Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists, and the National Thespian Society. Sally graduated from West High in 1966 and attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. During her career, she worked as a librarian for the Rockford Public Library and Christ Church Unity of Rockford (present-day Unity of Rockford Spiritual Center). Sally met her husband, Leroy Hecker, while working at Unity of Rockford, and they married there on March 30, 1990. Sally was a proud cat mom, an avid reader, and a talented writer. She also enjoyed gardening, making jewelry, illustrating, practicing calligraphy, and collecting animal figurines.  Sally is survived by her husband of 32 years, Leroy; birth daughter Kristina Rominger Mattison of St. Louis, MO; cats Chester and Riley; stepsons Paul (Bethany Schoepski) Hecker of Loves Park, IL, Eric (Julia Wilke) Hecker of Avondale, AZ, and Daniel (Andrea) Hecker of Henderson, NV; siblings Nancy (Mike) Payne of Owensboro, KY, MaryBeth Russell of Bloomington, IL, and Tom (Judy) Coe of Rockford, IL; nieces and nephews Jeff, Brad, Matthew, Chad, Emily, Brian, Sarah, Tim, and Dan; and several other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Margaret “Peggy” Paquette, and many beloved cats.
The family will have a private gathering at a later date. Anyone wishing to honor Sally’s love of animals can make a donation in her memory to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Rockford, IL. Stateline Cremations is assisting the family, 712 Windsor Road, Loves Park, Illinois 61111. www.statelinecremations.com