Flora Lorraine (Candela) Gallant

SLINGERLANDS- Flora Lorraine (Candela) Gallant, 94, of Slingerlands, NY, died peacefully at home Tuesday January 14, 2025, after a brief illness. She was born on June 1, 1930, in East Boston, MA, daughter of the late Louis and Theresa (Quatrale) Candela. She was the widow of Thomas A. Gallant, with whom she shared 54 years of marriage.

Flora grew up in Foxboro, MA and graduated from Foxboro High School and Sargent College of Boston University with a degree in physical therapy. She began her long PT career as a staff therapist at Medical College of Virginia where she was one of the first PTs to treat polio patients in iron lungs. She and Tom settled in Hudson, NH where they lived for almost 50 years. She worked for several nursing homes and home care agencies in NH. She especially enjoyed treating and getting to know patients in their homes and many kept in touch with her for years. For the past 14 years, she lived in the Albany, NY area.

A humble and selfless person, Flora had a great sense of humor and a positive outlook on life. Her family was of utmost importance to her. To her last days, she never missed acknowledging each and every birthday, anniversary and other special occasions with a thoughtfully chosen gift. She enjoyed reading, cooking, knitting, and crossword puzzles. She loved dogs and cats and delighted in tending to her beautiful gardens and keeping her backyard birds well fed.

Flora is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and Jeffrey Eaton of Springvale, ME, Carole and Albert Shapiro of Needham, MA, and Mary Gallant and Theodore Chang of Delmar, NY; seven grandchildren, Carla Eaton of Brighton, MA, Colin Eaton and his wife Amanda of Hollis, ME, Cody Eaton and his partner Jasmine Edwards of Warren, ME, Andrea Shapiro and her husband Patrick O’Brien of Medford, MA, Stephanie Shapiro and her fiancé Jason Smullen of Chicago, IL, Kevin Chang and his wife Taylor Nye of Ann Arbor, MI, and Eric Chang of New York City and his partner Christine Suh of St. Louis, MO; and three great grandchildren, Jonah and Felix Eaton, and Cecilia Nye-Chang.

Calling hours will be Saturday February 1, 2025 from 1-3, with a 3pm service at Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY. Burial will be Monday, February 3 at 12pm at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Hudson, NH and all invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208 or Five Rivers Environmental Education Center at Friends of Five Rivers, 56 Game Farm Rd, Delmar, NY 12054 or https://friendsoffiverivers.org/donate/ Online condolences may be offered at danielkeenanfuneralhome.com