Patricia G. Bologna was born on November 9, 1946. She died on September 28, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband of 51 years John R. Bologna, who lives in Plymouth; her son Jason P. Bologna, 50, who lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania; her son Mark W. Bologna, 42, who lives in Plymouth; and her daughter Laura E. Bologna, 40, who lives in Hanson.
Patricia was raised by her parents, William Gallagher and Eloise Gallagher, in Auburn, Massachusetts. She was the oldest of their three children; she is survived by her brother, William Gallagher, and her sister, Joan Gallagher. They were a lively, happy Irish Catholic family. Her father managed the bookstore at College of the Holy Cross and her mother was a librarian.
Patricia graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College and obtained Master’s Degrees from Simmons College and Fitchburg State College. She worked as a librarian throughout her career. After college graduation, she moved to Arlington, Virginia, and applied to work in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) library. Her background check was protracted, and needing to support herself financially, she gratefully accepted a job as a reference librarian at the Arlington Public Library. She eventually returned to Massachusetts and worked in libraries at Hanover High School, Curry College, and Notre Dame Academy. She was the Library Director at Notre Dame for over 20 years. During that time, she also won two Fulbright Scholarships, which led her to live and study in Japan and China.
Patricia met John on a blind date in March of 1970. They were introduced by mutual friends. On their first date, they went to an Italian restaurant and ordered the same dish, manicotti. This choice highlighted a theme that repeated itself throughout their relationship: they liked the same things. Those things included books, art, museums, and food. Most importantly, they loved each other. They were married on April 3, 1971, and honeymooned in Rome, Vienna, and London.
Patricia and John moved to Hingham in 1977. They lived there for 40 years, raising their family. In addition to the constant challenges of being a working mother, Patricia was a voracious reader. She belonged to multiple book clubs. She was a tireless advocate for advancing the role of women in the workplace and the educational system. She was selected as the state President of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and the state President of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). She and John also loved Cape Cod, purchasing a home in Eastham in the mid-1980s. Patricia relished spending time at the beach, particularly First Encounter Beach, and visiting the local stores, restaurants, and ice cream shops.
Patricia was devoted to her family. That devotion fueled every aspect of her life and decision-making. She was a skilled cook and delighted in making meals for family gatherings. She was a superb listener and wanted to know what was happening in your life. Simply put, she cared deeply about the people who were closest to her. Patricia was a sister-in-law to Joan’s husband, Charlie McKinny, a sister-in-law to Robert and Joan Bologna, an aunt to Carlyn and Greg Setchell and Casey Gallagher, a mother-in-law to Maria M. Carrillo and a grandmother to Cristina Bologna, Nolan McGrann, and Lucas McGrann. Cristina caller her “Mama B,” and knew she was always ready to play cards, bake muffins, or work on a puzzle. Mark’s girlfriend, Shauna Ferris, and Laura’s boyfriend, Mike Young, were frequent and cherished guests in Patricia’s home.
Patricia was grateful for the many blessings in her life. Her funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 11:00AM at St. Bonaventure Church, 803 State Road, Plymouth, MA 02360. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her name to the Dana Farber Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.