Rensselaer- Elsie May Gillan died on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family following a short illness. Born in Albany, she was the daughter of the late John and Lottie Halpin, and was a graduate of Albany High School. Elsie retired after a career with the NYS Dept. of Higher Education. Elsie enjoyed many opportunities to serve her local communities through her volunteer work with Concerns-U, serving on the Advisory Board for the Rensselaer Seniors organizing numerous trips and outings, and her endless support of local animal shelters. On October 8, 1949, Elsie married the love of her life John Edward Gillan and the two remained married for 43 years, until his passing in 1992. Elsie is predeceased by her siblings William, Jack, Mary, Charles, and Robert Halpin. Elsie continued to volunteer time for those in need even in her last days by knitting and crocheting, her final project being knitting tiny hats for babies with Tiny Hats for Tiny Hearts and Knitting Ray's of Hope. Elsie never went a day without completing a number of crossword puzzles, which was always her “first course of business” each morning. She used this talent in her three generations of homework tutoring. In Elsie’s home, everyone one was family, and no one was ever allowed to leave with an empty stomach. Elsie is survived by her children, Mary Pat Hopper, John (Judy) Gillan, Kathleen ‘Kit’ Seney, Thomas (Lisa McGee) Gillan, David (Shar) Gillan, daughter-in-law Dawn Gillan, as well as her seven beloved grandchildren: Lily, Ally, Sean, Elaine, Sydney, Erin, Jack, and great-grandchild Ryan. Calling hours will be held at W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home 1700 Washington Ave. Rensselaer, NY on Sunday evening from 4pm-7pm. There will be a short prayer service at 10:30am at Lyons Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph Church 50 Herrick St in Rensselaer on Monday morning at 11am with burial to follow at New Rural Cemetery 330 Third Avenue Extension, Rensselaer. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Elsie’s memory to Vanderheyden, 614 Cooper Hill Road, Wynantskill, NY 12198 or on-line at www.vanderheyden.org