Lucetta MacDonald Ganley, who had a long career in nursing and nursing education, died peacefully on August 23, 2023, in Greenwich, Connecticut, after a lengthy illness. She was 85. She was a resident of Rye, N.Y., Longboat Key, Fla. and Little Pond, Prince Edward Island.
Known as Lu by family and friends, she was the cherished wife of William (Bill) Ganley for more than 53 years, and the loving mother of Douglas (Wendy Beer) Ganley and Amiee (William) Munro.
Born on September 3, 1937, to Clara and John William MacDonald in the Red House community of Prince Edward Island, Canada, she was supported by her large extended family following the death of her mother at a young age.
Known as someone who would break through barriers, she was one of the first female students to attend St. Dunstan’s University (now UPEI). She then moved to the Boston area to follow her passion for nursing and education, earning a B.S. in Nursing at Boston College and a master’s degree from Boston University.
She spent many happy years living in the Back Bay of Boston, where she was introduced to her future husband by mutual friends. After she and Bill married, and welcomed their two children, Lu’s keen intellect and curious mind led her to embrace progressive maternal care and she became a certified Lamaze instructor and lactation consultant.
After relocating, first to Chicago, and then to Rye, she began a career as a nurse educator and taught throughout the greater New York area. She then became a candidate for a Doctorate in Education at Columbia’s Teacher College. She went on to serve as Director of the Cochran School of Nursing at St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, and led the program for years, until her retirement in 1999.
Outside of her career, she loved playing bridge, where she attained the level of Sapphire Life Master, and time alongside partners who were both patient and understanding. She also loved spending time with her loving husband, children, and grandchildren, and going home every year to her cottage on Spry Point on Prince Edward Island, surrounded by extended family and friends. An accomplished cook and generous host, Lu Ganley loved to entertain and could always be counted on for lively conversation cocktails.
In addition to her husband and children, she leaves behind her adored younger brother Dunstan (Eleanor) MacDonald of Grimsby, Ontario; her grandsons, Aden and Brodie Ganley of Manhattan, and Mac, JD, and Cooper Munro of Wellesley, Mass.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Many of her cousins in Canada were like sisters and brothers to her and she cherished these close family ties throughout her lifetime.
A service to commemorate her life was held August 29 at Graham Funeral Home in Rye. Her family will hold a celebration of life in Prince Edward Island at a later date.
Donations in Lu Ganley’s memory may be made to The Cochran School of Nursing, 967 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701.
