Elizabeth H. Gallagher

ORLEANS – Elizabeth Hewins Gallagher Passed away peacefully in her home on February 8th, at the age of 101. She was the daughter of the late Roberta (Crump) and Lyman F. Hewins, Senior Naval Architect/U.S. Navy.

Elizabeth was born in Washington DC on August 18, 1916, graduated from Central High School and attended George Washington University.

While visiting a Pi Beta Phi sister in Panama she met her husband, West Point graduate Robert Emmett Gallagher. They were married in 1936.

Elizabeth spent just about every summer of her life at the family home in Orleans. No matter where her husband’s military travels took them, including several years spent in Libya and Germany as well as various military bases in the States, she and her son would return to the Cape for the summer. She would often tell wonderful stories of how life was in Orleans when she was a child in the earlier part of the twentieth century, when her father would drop the family off at the beginning of the summer, and they would stay until Labor Day. She was always sad to leave.

An enthusiastic boater, she learned to sail as a teenager on the ‘Nenemoosha’, a 37 foot yawl that her father designed. In later years, she spent time traveling up and down the coast with her father and other family members on his 55 foot yacht, also named ‘Nenemoosha’. She had her own boat in Orleans, and would often take a group of friends to the Outer Beach for the day.

After her husband died, Elizabeth moved permanently to the Cape in 1970.

Elizabeth was an accomplished seamstress and often made her own clothing. She also knitted, and made hooked rugs with a group of friends ‘the hookers’.

She enjoyed playing bridge, and loved to fish in her younger years. She loved animals, especially her poodles and her parrots.

In college Elizabeth joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority, and remained a member for the rest of her life, holding the position of President of the local chapter on the Cape for twenty years until she stepped down three years ago.

Elizabeth loved people and enjoyed entertaining. She had a great sense of humor and laughed easily. She especially enjoyed when her extended family would come and visit for the summer. There were many fine times spent telling old stories and eating lobster on her deck.

Elizabeth was the mainstay of the neighborhood. Everyone always knew when they came to the Cape she would be there, always happy to see them, always offering a place to stay and a meal to enjoy. Her passing is the end of an era.

Elizabeth is survived by her son Randy Gallagher (Sarah), grandson Robert Binney “Robin” Gallagher (Lisa) and their children Chase and Mason, nieces Martha, Joy (Robert), and Charlotte, and nephew Lyman (Georgeann). She was predeceased by her husband Robert Emmett Gallagher, brother Spencer and sister Charlotte.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 16th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

The family would like to thank all the people who provided her excellent and loving care, especially Mariana.

Heaven is getting a superstar, may Elizabeth rest in peace.

Every summer, Elizabeth came to Cape Cod with her family until she moved to Orleans permanently in 1970.

She was a talented seamstress, and loved to hook rugs with her group of friends “the hookers.” She also enjoyed playing bridge and hosting family gatherings. She loved animals; she always had poodles and at least one parrot.

Elizabeth was the anchor of her family and friends—every time they came to Cape Cod, they knew that Elizabeth would always be there.

Elizabeth is survived by her son Randy Gallagher (Sarah), grandson Robert Binney “Robin” Gallagher (Lisa) and their children Chase and Mason, nieces Martha, Joy (Robert), and Charlotte, and nephew Lyman (Georgeann). She was predeceased by her husband Robert Emmett Gallagher, brother Spencer and sister Charlotte.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 16th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Nickerson Funeral Home in Orleans. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.