Obituary of Marilyn Gallagher

Marilyn Rauscher Gallagher died December 23, 2024, at Goodwin House in Falls Church, VA, surrounded by her family. She was 91. She was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, daughter of the late W. Charles and Agnes Gallagher. She was a graduate of St. Ann’s Academy and the Wyoming Seminary Dean School of Business. She worked for the Veterans Administration in Wilkes-Barre and moved permanently to the Washington, D.C., area in the mid-1950s to work for the Veterans Administration there. In 1958, she married Frederick J. Rauscher of Wilkes-Barre, and they settled in Arlington, Va., where they raised four children. Her husband died in 1991. She married Joseph A. Gallagher, also of Wilkes-Barre, in 1994. He died in 2005. From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s she was the administrative assistant for the major gifts program at WETA, the leading public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital. After she retired, she volunteered for many years with the Virginia Hospital Center Auxiliary. In 2009, she moved to Goodwin House, a senior living community, where she spent her final years. She had an active social life and made many new friends. She was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. She traveled extensively throughout her life, including a three-month trip around the world, and she had a lifelong thirst for learning. She was proud of her Irish heritage and enjoyed spending time in Ireland. Marilyn is survived by her children, Ann Rauscher of Arlington; Frederick Rauscher of East Lansing, Mich., and his wife, Delores; Richard Rauscher of Maplewood, N.J., and his husband, John Blixt; and Kurt Rauscher of Herndon, Va., and his wife, Ann. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Konrad Rauscher, Bennett Rauscher, Audrey Rauscher, Charlie Blixt, Annie Blixt, Joseph Rauscher and Gray Rauscher; step-grandchildren Kelly Gebhart, Thomas Rokholt and Christina Rokholt; sisters-in-law Theresa Gawlas and Linda Gallagher; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, William C. Gallagher, and her stepdaughter, Denise Rokholt. Marilyn’s Funeral Mass will be at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Falls Church at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 3rd. Visitation will be at Murphy Funeral Home in Arlington from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 2nd, and noon to 2 p.m. Friday. A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 4th from 11 am – noon at the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. Marilyn’s funeral service will follow at noon. Rev. Joseph D. Verespy, Pastor of St. Nicholas-St. Mary’s Church, will officiate. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township. Memorial gifts may be made to Goodwin Living Foundation – Resident Support Fund, 4800 Fillmore Ave., Alexandria, VA 22311 or online at goodwinliving.org/giving/donate (please select Resident Support Fund from the drop-down menu). Condolences may be sent by visiting Marilyn’s obituary at www.ngjfuneral.com.