Gloria Neives Pearce

Born in 1926 in Yonkers, New York, Gloria was the eldest daughter of Randolph and Virginia Neives and was raised in Hackensack, New Jersey. In 1944 Gloria served as a member of the World War II Cadet Nursing Corp and graduated at the top of her nursing school class in 1948. Upon graduation she worked as a hospital nurse before starting a family. She returned to work as an instructor in the LPN program for BOCES in Mt. Kisco, NY, and then spent fifteen years as a school nurse/teacher in the North Salem, NY school system, retiring in 1982 and making Chatham her permanent home.

A lifelong learner, she continued her education and became a paralegal, but her real passion was in service to others. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Chatham where she filled many volunteer roles from teaching Sunday School to cooking for the Friday night Lobster Roll Suppers to leading a Tuesday morning Bible study on Hardings Beach. She was also active in the Chatham Ecumenical Council to Prevent Homelessness.

Gloria was an avid gardener and cook. She cultivated a productive vegetable garden that produced fresh food which her family enjoyed all year. Exuberant flower gardens graced each or her homes and she took great enjoyment in tending to them. She was a masterful and creative cook and was able to walk into any of her children’s kitchens and pull off a delicious meal with whatever was in their refrigerators.

She is predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Gordon John Pearce, and her younger sister, Caryl. She is survived by her children, Beth Bailey (Rich), Peter Pearce (Mary), Mark Pearce (Katrina Billings), John Pearce (Liz), her ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services on June 25th at the First United Methodist Church of Chatham at 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Chatham (16 Cross St., Chatham, MA 02633) or to the Chatham Ecumenical Council Helping Prevent Homelessness (PO Box 81, West Chatham, MA 02669)