Patricia M. VanGalen

Patricia Marie Van Galen, 91, of Albany, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2024, in Bozeman, MT, after a long battle with a chronic neuromuscular disease.

Pat, a native of Albany, NY, was born on April 23, 1932. She was the daughter of the late Anna M. Conley and Willard Conley, predeceased by her sister, Eileen A. Lyons, and brother, James P. Conley.

Pat attended School 4, then graduated from Albany High School in 1950. She went on to work in retail, real estate and NYS Bill Drafting.

On January 23, 1954, Pat married John P. VanGalen. They together built their home in Delmar, NY, where they raised a family of four. She was a communicant of St. Thomas Church in Delmar, and St. Mary’s of Albany. Pat was an avid golfer at Normanside Country Club for decades, in addition to being a competitive runner known for her medals in the local Freihofer Races. She thrived in the outdoors, enjoying Schroon Lake and the Adirondacks year-round, including DH and XC skiing adventures with John and the kids. Pat was also an accomplished gardener, mastering her flowers and loving her birds.

Survivors include her children: Patricia A. VanGalen-Korkowski and her husband, Gary Korkowski of Big Sky, Montana, John P. VanGalen and his wife, Zee Martinez of Jacksonville, FL, Michael J. VanGalen of Albany and Theodore E. VanGalen and his wife, Susan Finn of Clifton Park; her grandchildren: Kelly Korkowski (Copping), Zachary Korkowski, Alexa, Teddy and Ryan VanGalen; her great-grand-daughter: Kinsley Copping; and several nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Hillcrest Senior Living Staff and the Bozeman Home Instead team, especially Pat’s long-time care-giver LS. A special thank you is also extended to the Hillcrest Birchwood Staff and the Enhabit Hospice team of Bozeman, for blessing us with their warm and loving care of Mom over this past year.

The family of Patricia M. Van Galen requests that contributions be made to any of the following:

* The Muscular Dystrophy Association, in order to designate donation funds for Inclusion Body Myositis, please mail a check to 

* The National WWII Museum [Husband John P. VanGalen, WWII Veteran], www.nationalww2museum.org.

* The Bozeman Health Foundation, 875 South Cottonwood Road, Suite 350, Bozeman, MT 59718. Please designate donation to Hillcrest Senior Living, www.bozemanhealthfoundation.org.

* The Community Hospice Foundation of Albany, NY, www.givetocommunityhospice.org.

A Memorial Mass was celebrated on Feb 7, 2024, by Father Leo Proxell of Holy Rosary Catholic Church at Hillcrest Senior Living in Bozeman with Pat’s Rosary Group of dear friends. In May, Mom will be returned to her beloved Albany for a Celebration of Life, to be buried alongside her husband, John, on Friday, May 10, 2024. Arrangements are entrusted to Tebbutt Funeral Home www.sbfuneralhome.com Albany, NY. Details of service to be announced.