Karen Gilgallon

CHESHIRE - Karen (Zembko) Gilgallon, beloved wife of Joseph Gilgallon Jr., passed away on December 17, 2021 at CT Hospice, surrounded by her loved ones, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Karen was born on April 2, 1962, in New Britain, daughter of Carleen (Willis) and the late John J. Zembko Jr. She was educated at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Karen had an infectious personality and would light up a room whenever she walked in. She would walk up to anyone and strike up a conversation like she knew you for years. She loved her family very deeply and was always the first one there and last to leave.

Karen worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for over 8 years, first as a payroll specialist, and later in the inspection department, starting out as a general inspector, and progressing to a layout inspector. She left Pratt due to downsizing, and ran her own daycare for several years, while studying and graduating from Briarwood college with a degree as a paralegal. She was hired at Ouellette, Deganis, Gallagher, and Grippe, where she worked for more than 22 years. She retired in 2019 to bravely fight her disease, which was diagnosed in 2015, and treated, but returned in 2019.

Karen loved to travel, making yearly trips to Florida, and traveled around the country and abroad. Some of her favorite trips included Hawaii, Jamaica, the Grand Canyon, a snowmobile trip to Yellowstone, and the Ice Hotel in Quebec. Karen was also very adventurous. She loved to ride her own motorcycle in the early days and loved riding her snowmobile and ATV with Joe in Vermont and New Hampshire. Her favorite pastime in recent years was being a beloved Aunt “Cio Cia” to her 8 grand nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband of 29+ years, she is survived by her children, Ryan Gilgallon, Jaclyn Gilgallon, and Joseph Gilgallon III; sister-in-law Janice Harris; her brother, John J. Zembko III and his wife, Jan; sister Nancy Kapplan, and her husband, Barry, and many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family, and many friends.

Arrangements – Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire 615 South Main Street. Funeral services and burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Friends of Feral Cheshire Cats @P.O. Box 945 Cheshire, Ct 06410, or a charity of your choice.