Obituary of Barbara Ann Galli

Barbara Ann Galli, age 85, beloved wife of Anthony Galli of Oxford, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on February 1, 2023 at Yale-New Haven Hospital.  Born in Straight Creek, Kentucky on August 10, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Bonnie Durham Collett.  Mrs. Galli was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and relocated to Connecticut in 1972 under a grant from Yale University to assist in establishing an animal care program.  She was offered a full time position that lead to a 25 year career, officially retiring in 1998 as the Manager of Yale University’s Animal Care Department.  Her eclectic personality sparked her many interests, such as home decor, sewing, the opera and performing arts, extensive foreign and domestic travel and even as a single woman, owned season’s tickets to the Cincinnati Bengals NFL football franchise.  She enjoyed home cooked meals, her husband Tony prepared from his family’s Italian recipes.  Of all her diverse interests, none could compete with her passion for all animals and their wellbeing.  In addition to her husband of 37 years, she is survived by her step-daughter, Deanna Nemec and her husband, Christopher of Ansonia; and her cherished granddaughters, Cassidy and Gillian Nemec of Ansonia.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Collett. 

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Saturday, from 4:00 to 6:30 PM, prior to the service.  A celebration of her life will be announced in the future.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Ansonia Animal Shelter, 1 North Division St., Ansonia CT 06401. Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.