Charlotte Hogan

Charlotte K. (Gallagher) Hogan of Pembroke Pines, FL passed away on Friday. April 15, 2011. She leaves behind two daughters, Dr. Charlene M. Hogan of Dania Beach, FL, and Gerree Hogan Trudeau of Hyannis, MA, and two sisters, Etta Willis of Dedham, MA, and Edythe Schell of Homosassa, FL. Charlotte was predeceased by her loving husband, Mathew J. Hogan, Jr., in 1984.

Charlene and Gerree say that they had the best mom. She was a lovely lady with strong values and a sense of purpose. She recently told Charlene that the best thing she did in her life was to have children.

She worked nights when they were kids, in Ashland, MA, so that they would always have her or their father around. They ate a well balanced dinner every night at 5:30. She baked great cakes and cupcakes and always celebrated their birthdays with great fanfare. Christmas morning began before the crack of dawn, with so many presents under the tree that they could not find the carpet beneath them. When her daughters messed up they would see that Irish temper flare, but she always loved them and stood by them.

She was the seventh of nine children. She fondly spoke about how much fun her childhood was with such a large Irish Catholic family in Boston! They were never rich, but there was plenty of love to go around. They stuck together like glue.

Mrs. Hogan went to college after Charlene graduated from Framingham State College in Massachusetts. She enjoyed it so much, she went back to receive her Masters degree in Geriatric Counseling before heading to Florida to begin retirement with their father. She immediately began to volunteer at the soup kitchen at the Catholic church in Belleview, and she was a substitute teacher at South Ocala Elementary School. She would always sub for Charlene when she was out.

When Charlene and Gerrees father passed away at 61 years of age, their mother was devastated. Charlene introduced her to square dancing. Mrs. Hogan made beautiful outfits and spent almost every night square dancing for 12 years, until arthritis began to set in. Finally, she agreed to move to Broward County near Charlene and bought a brand new condo in Century Village, where she lived for the past 15 years. Once again, she began volunteering, this time at Pasadena Lakes Elementary School where Charlene was the Assistant Principal. Mrs. Hogan always loved being around books and read voraciously. She instilled in her daughters the sheer joy of reading.

Mrs. Hogan was looking forward to a spectacular Marlins team this year. She was a loyal fan who never missed a game on TV. Heaven must have great view of the ball field for her to leave us so early in the baseball season.