Those who knew her, loved her. Those who didn’t, wish they had.
When Brandy Gallagher, a lifetime Girl Scout and Glendale Heights resident, passed away unexpectedly earlier this year, she left a void in the lives and hearts she touched.
A community relations advisor at A Place for Mom, Brandy dedicated her life to caring for others.
“I think that she genuinely wanted to make people happy, bring people joy and laughter,” said Brandy’s college roommate, Aviva Nathan. “She got a lot of happiness out of making other people happy. She has a wonderful legacy teaching people how to express their love for others, and making the world a brighter place filled with laughter and joy.”
Indeed, the world is a much better place because Brandy was in it and it’s her parents’ desire to ensure her legacy lives forever.
“Years ago, we had a discussion about what we’d do if we ever won the lottery and she said she would give to Girl Scouts,” Brandy’s mother, Molly Gallagher, explained. “She was always concerned about others.”
In lieu of flowers, Brandy’s family asked loved ones to donate to Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. To date, more than $3,000 has been donated to help send girls to summer camp.
“Brandy loved her days as a Girl Scout and as an aide and assistant director at Von Oven [Scout Reservation] and Camp Greene Wood,” Molly, a lifetime Girl Scout member with more than 25 years of volunteer service, said. “As a high school graduation present, I gave her a lifetime membership. It obviously has paid off big time.”
Outside of Girl Scouts, Brandy also enjoyed running, reading, crafting and theatre. And she showed off her creative side by making fun crafts for work and baking cookies for colleagues.
“I think that Brandy sought out opportunities to give and serve. She wanted others to be themselves, do what they love, and feel confident in doing so,” said Michelle Bezy Sands, a high school and college classmate. “When we recollected about Girl Scouts, we talked about how fun it was to try new things that as girls we weren’t always introduced to. It was also a safe place to be just ourselves. I like to think Brandy wanted that to be her legacy – to inspire others to be themselves, take risks, give of themselves and to do so unapologetically.”
To learn more about Girl Scouts and get involved, visit girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
What a fitting tribute to Brandy, Molly and Girl Scouts. Love to all
I didn’t know her Molly but I wish I had.
What a phenomenal person your daughter, Brandy, is. Yes, “is” because she will always be phenomenal. On another note, I never knew Molly was a GS life member. Kudos!
Brandy touched the lives of everyone she met…. She is so very missed on our team here at A Place for Mom. Not a day goes by where we don’t think of her and smile. Many of us still reach for our phones daily to tell her something silly. She was a true Girl Scout in every sense.
As the daughter of my wonderful neighbors I only met Brandy a few times and I always found her to be delightful and interesting to chat with.