Gloria Calarco, a beloved mother, grandmother, friend and musician, died peacefully at her home in New Jersey Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. She was 90.
Born in Manhattan, NY in 1929, Gloria grew up in Little Italy a few blocks from a boy who would become the love of her life and soulmate. She was the first-generation daughter of two Italian immigrants from Naples and had three older sisters. At the young age of 13, she met Michael Calarco and married him 7 years later in 1949. They moved to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn where they raised their two children. There, Gloria began her career as a school secretary for the New York City Board of Education where she worked for many years before retiring in the late 1980s. In 1978, Gloria and her late husband moved to Staten Island where she eventually took a job as a secretary at Bayley Seton Hospital. They later moved to Manchester, NJ in 2003. When Michael passed away in 2014, Gloria moved to the Silverwoods Independent Living facility in Toms River and found a wonderful group of friends who she loved spending time with.
Gloria loved music, whether she was listening to it or playing her violin – earning her the nickname “Fiddles.” She and Michael dazzled audiences when they put on shows together, him on the microphone, her fiddling on her favorite instrument. They played at various retirement communities and assisted living facilities, bringing much enjoyment to all those who had the pleasure of watching them perform. Gloria had played with the Toms River Multigenerational Orchestra and received a Special Recognition Award from the group. She loved to travel, and was always on the move. Gloria and Michael traveled to nearly every state in the US, missing just two – Hawaii and Alaska. Even with all that kept her busy and happy, Gloria loved spending time with her family, whether it was a Sunday dinner or lunch, a family cruise to the Caribbean or a vacation to the Jersey Shore. She adored her grandchildren and despite her age, kept an active presence on Facebook and Instagram where she loved seeing updates from family and friends.
Gloria had an enormous heart and is surely grateful to be reuniting with her beloved, who fondly called her “Peanuts.” She will be deeply missed.
She is survived by her devoted children, Dolores Musumeci and her husband John, and Michael Calarco and his wife Theresa; and her cherished grandchildren, Jacqueline, Natalie and her girlfriend Gabrielle; Michael Jesse, Matthew, Gregory and Emily.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday September 8, 2020, at the Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 3010 Ridgeway Road, Manchester, NJ 08759, from 9:30-11:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 12 pm at Saint Johns RC Church, 619 Chestnut Street, Lakehurst, NJ 08733. Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Staten Island, NY. Please visit www.andersoncampbellmanchester.com to offer condolences.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.9.5