Karen Rose Galler
February 21, 1961 – September 28, 2019
At North York General Hospital in Toronto, after a nine-year battle with cancer, on Saturday, September 28, 2019. Karen is survived by her husband, John Tough and children, Adam, Dana and Sammy Galler-Tough, father, Mark Galler of Montreal and brother, Danny Galler (Cindy) of Thornhill. Predeceased by her mother, Anne Marie Galler. She is survived by her nieces Hanna Galler, Kate Hearn (McGill) and Stephanie McGill; nephews Joshua Galler, Geoffrey McGill, Gianluca Gatto and Cristiano Gatto; her sisters-in-law Cindy Galler, Melinda McGill and Laurie Gatto; her brother-in-law Gerry Gatto; her aunt Eva Philipp; cousins Michael Galler (Kyoko Galler) of Santa Barbara, Ronnie Philipp (Mirah Kirshner) and Diane Philipp (Rob Muller). Karen is predeceased by her uncles Henry Galler and Rudy Philipp, her aunt Shoshanna Galler and her cousin Jayne Berman.
Karen was a successful, skilled and admired individual and family therapist in Toronto. She was born in Westmount, Quebec, and grew up in Montreal. She attended the Jewish People’s School, Bialik High School and Marianopolis CEGEP. Karen was an honours graduate of Concordia University and the University of Toronto School of Social Work. She worked in various local hospitals before entering private practice in the late 1990’s.
Karen loved to ski, swim, knit, cook, read, eat and drink, exercise and garden. She was devoted to her family and her close friends. Karen frequently traveled to Europe, the U.S. and across Canada, both in winter and in summer. Karen was a long-time supporter of various charities including the United Way, United Jewish Appeal, the Canadian Cancer Society and the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation. She leaves behind many grieving friends and relatives. During the late stages of her illness, Karen was supported by her longtime friend Louise Slater and her cousin Diane Philipp, among many others. She will be especially missed by her Pilates group, her YMCA friends and her Boot Camp running mates. Karen benefited enormously from excellent medical care over her long battle with cancer. We are forever indebted to our family physician Dr. Risa Freeman, our oncologist Dr. Albi Razak (Mt Sinai), and our palliative specialist Dr. Karen Weisz (NYGH).
Funeral service at Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel, Toronto, on Sunday September 29 at 2:30 p.m. Interment at Habonim Section of Pardes Chaim Cemetery. Visits will be held Monday through Friday, from 11:00 am to 4:00 p.m. at 29 Edinburgh Dr., Toronto. Donations may be made to the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation nlmsf.org or to the Canadian Cancer Society, 1-888-939-3333.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Karen Rose Galler..
Death notice for the town of: Montreal, Province: Quebec