Patricia Elaine (Murphy) Galkowski (97), wife of the late Eugene Francis Galkowski, who predeceased her in 1976 shortly before their 10th wedding anniversary passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the Somerset Ridge Center.

Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mildred (Perrault) Murphy. She was a graduate of Nashua High School in 1945, she received a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry from Brown University in 1949, she studied at Columbia University Library school and received a Master of Library science degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1965.

At the time of her retirement from the Brown University Library System in 1993 as a Science Reference Librarian with responsibility for the collections in Chemistry, Geology and Mathematics, she was the University's longest term continuous active employee and was honored for her 43 years of service with the establishment of a Library Fund in her name. Among her professional affiliations were the New England Library Association, the Rhode Island Chapter of Special Librarian Association, and the New England Chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries.

She was an active member of St. Stanislaus Parish where she served as lector, lay minister of the Eucharist, altar server, member of the stewardship Council, Sunday secretary, helper with Catholic Charities and a member of the Holy Rosary Society. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Anne's Hospital for 12 years.

In her retirement she helped organize the St. Stanislaus School Library. She was a member of the Saint Stanislaus Church for whom she served three terms as secretary and worked at the annual Parish Festivals for more than 30 years. She was awarded the Marian Medal by Bishop George W. Coleman in 2007.

She enjoyed serving her Church, travelling, and spending time with her friends.

Patricia's life was a testament to the strength of her spirit and the depth of her compassion. Her heart was a sanctuary filled with love, laughter, and hope. She was a woman of unwavering faith, her devotion to her religion evident in her daily life and interactions.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Saint Stanislaus Parish, 36 Rockland Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02724. The celebration of Patricia's life will continue with a private committal Service at St John's Cemetery & Mausoleum, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01603.

As we bid farewell to Patricia, we are reminded of the words by Albert Schweitzer: "The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve." Patricia embodied this philosophy in her daily life. She was a woman of service, giving selflessly to her family, her church, and her community. Her legacy of love and service will continue to inspire those she leaves behind.

In honor of Patricia's life and the love she shared with us, we invite all who knew her to leave memories and upload photos to her memorial page. It is through our shared remembrances that her spirit will continue to live on. Her life was a blessing, her memory a treasure; she is loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. Remember her life, cherish her memories, and let her spirit continue to be a guiding light in all our lives.

Services are humbly entrusted into the care of Southcoast Funeral Homes "Celebrating A Life Well Lived"