Gloria Osorio Mendez

She was born on June 11th, 1934 in Phoenix to the late Guillermo and Ester Maldonado.

Gloria was 87 years old, born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She fulfilled her life’s work of caring and supporting, the majority of her working years were as a Foster Parent impacting many young forsaken lives. They needed someone and she was there for them in her Filmore home, the home was small so she built it bigger. As a Foster Mother to Native American children, she expanded her career as a Counselor in the inner city of Phoenix for that same demographic. After her foster parent years, she educated herself as a Dietitian, she was an amazing cook, and nobody will ever forget her pies. She finished her final working years caring for the elderly at John C. Lincoln Medical Center as a Dietitian. In between Gloria’s careers and many at home responsibilities she continued to grow and prosper for her family; many would say she paved the way for them through her experience and knowledge of opening and running a restaurant, catering, and buying and leasing real estate. She would often say, “Who am I, look at me, if I can do it...SO CAN YOU!”. She helped many families become first-time home buyers. Gloria was a woman who took action, a great matriarch, entrepreneur, and had vision and thoughts that were well before her time.

Gloria Osorio Mendez was a loving, vibrant and vociferous person who lived a full and inspirational life. When she was called to duty, she answered that call and nothing could stand in her way.

She is survived by five children David (Maria) Mendez, Antonia (Richard) Anaya, Rudy Mendez Jr., Regina Mendez, and Sandra Mendez; 15 grandchildren, Bridgette Chavez, Rudy “Jay” Mendez III, Ronald Esquivel, Guillermo Mendez, Gloria Jefferson, Sean Gentile, Sonia Mendez, Adam Anaya, Annamarie Lynn, Joanna Wian, Christina Villaverde, Michelle Parker, Patrick Parker, Johnnie Parker, and Anna Mendez-Stark. Gloria is also survived by 29 great-grandchildren Alexa Anaya, Amari Chavez, Aban Chavez, Rudy Mendez IV, Ashley Misquez, Anisa Romero, Diego Esquivel, Jaedyn Esquivel, Liliana Mendez, Luca Ferrigno, Lana Ferrigno, Amelia Jefferson, Paityn Jefferson, Christian Jefferson, Dominic Parker, Damien Parker, Anna Parker, Brianna Parker, Dominic Parker, Sienna Parker, Meena Mendez-Stark, Christina Stark, Faith Lynn, Grace Lynn, Annabelle Mendez, Layla (Jordan) Peot, Nicholas Peot, Gloria Carranza, Lorelei Villaverde, and three great-great-grandchildren Noah Misquez, Jade Misquez, and Mason Misquez.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service celebrating her life on Friday, April 15, 2022 at 1 PM at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale.