Lila May Gallo

Camden - Lila May (Boardman) Gallo, 90, of Camden, widow of Charles Gallo, passed away at Waterville Residential Care on December 24, 2021. Lila was born on her mother's birthday in Ellisburg, NY, a daughter of Louis M. and Arletha (Litz) Boardman, on March 9, 1931. During her early childhood years, Lila was often hungry, without a permanent home or family stability. When she was eight years old, she had the opportunity to live with the Clem and Rose Stinebrickner family in Mud Lake. Knowing that this was a farm, so "they had food," she lived and worked with them for the next ten years, attending school in West Leyden. One winter she traveled across the country with the Stinebrickner's to Arizona, where she attended high school in Yuma, and made two dear friends Emilie Ubert and Augustina Alvarado. On December 1, 1949, Lila wed Charles Gallo at St. Mary's Church in West Leyden. Charlie told her she would never be hungry or cold again. He kept that promise. Lila and Charlie settled to a good life in Swancotts Mills and raised their three kids, Raymond, Kathleen and Brian on "The Ponderosa." Lila was a homemaker during her children's growing-up years, but later did the bookkeeping for Gallo Brothers Construction and even worked as a flagger on some road construction jobs with Gallo Brothers. After their retirement, Charlie and Lila traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canadian Provinces, visiting the big national parks and taking two wonderful trips to Alaska. They downsized to a home near Camden in 1998 along with their son Brian. Lila enjoyed the outdoors and nature and loved animals, especially cats. She was particularly fond of lively old-time country music, singing along with Hank Snow. Lila and Charlie dined out as often as possible. Many employees of local restaurants, banks and doctors' offices will remember Lila's thoughtful small gifts of appreciation to them. She was a quiet nonjudgmental person, responsible, a hard worker, and a good mother. Lila leaves behind her daughter Kathleen Gallo; daughter-in-law Linda Gallo; grandchildren Nicolas (Patty) Gallo, Richard (Jennifer) Gallo, Angela (Joe) Zacherl, and Joanna (Dru) Keck; great-grandchildren Trevor and Alexis, Kaitlin and Raymond, Julia and Silas. Lila was predeceased by her son Raymond in 1989 in a tragic logging accident. Charlie passed away in 2013 at the age of 90. Brian left us unexpectedly in 2020, and Ron Bumpus in 2014, who Lila and Charlie loved like a son. Lila was also predeceased by her sister Betty, and her brother Irvin, and by her feline companion Willow. Sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of Waterville Residential Care for their compassion and professionalism. In Lila's memory, please consider a donation to an animal rescue organization, your local food bank, the Camden Fire Department, or other charity of your choice. There will be no visitation or services at this time. A graveside service will be held in the spring, 2022, in Boonville Cemetery, in memory of Lila and her son, Brian Gallo. Arrangements are in care of the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler St. Boonville.