Gloria Szabo

On March 22, 2020, Gloria Antoinette Davis Szabo passed away one day before her 95th birthday. She was surrounded by her loving family in her care facility after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for a number of years. She is survived by her four children, daughters Pat (Bill Fries) and Kathy, sons Joe (Jill) and Rick (Carol); eight grandchildren, Dan, John (Jackie), and Kevin Garrison, Marshall (Jessica), Kennedy (Allen Schmidt), Rich (Brittany), Adam (Madeline), and Abby Szabo, and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Gloria was an only child, born in her grandmother’s home in Brookhaven GA to Sarah Barclay and William Davis. She moved with her parents at an early age to Miami, FL. She attended Gesu Catholic School, where at age 12 she was voted “Miss Gesu Junior” - an honor she proudly remembered all of her life. She returned to live with her grandmother and aunt and attended Christ the King school in Atlanta. The strong foundation of her Catholic faith sustained her through many difficulties and challenges in her life, and she never failed to share her love of Jesus and Mary openly. She instilled this same love of God and the Church into her children.

After struggling through an illness that kept her from completing high school, she went to work for the United States Postal Service as a clerk. It was during this time in 1943 that Gloria met the love of her life, Joseph Szabo at a USO dance where she served as a hostess during World War II. She admitted that he “swept her off her feet” and they were married on September 16, 1944.

They raised their busy family, living simply and providing cherished adventures such as long road trips to visit grandparents in Pennsylvania and Florida during the summers. They made sacrifices to send their four children to Catholic school from elementary through high school at Our Lady of the Assumption, St. Pius X High School and Marist High School. They served as volunteers in various roles at OLA church and school. Always an advocate of education, Gloria returned to school as a grandmother and completed her high school education on November 17, 1974. Her three oldest grandchildren were present to proudly witness her receive her diploma.

Gloria and Joe were happiest when their ever-growing family gathered at their house for Sunday dinners and holidays, always sharing great food and lots of laughter. After her husband’s death in 1989, Gloria became active at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Atlanta. In July of 1990 she traveled with the choir to Rome, Italy to perform for Pope John Paul II - another highlight of her life that she never forgot.

Gloria had a flair for decorating, and put her talents to use during several moves around the Atlanta area until she settled in Flowery Branch for the last nine years of her life. Sensing that her health was becoming a concern, she moved to Tucker in 2016 to be near her family. Shortly after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, the recurring illness from her childhood made it necessary for her to move to an assisted living facility where she remained until her death.

Gloria was always gracious and kind, even as the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease became more and more apparent. She entertained the loving caregivers with her sense of humor and shared her faith with them, blessing them and praying with them every time someone came to take care of her needs. Her love and gratitude towards all the staff earned her the reputation of “the sweetest resident” at Dunwoody Place. Her signature gesture of blowing kisses was contagious, and people would blow kisses to her from a distance when they saw her coming.

Over the course of four years, the predictable decline became apparent as the disease took its toll on her body and her mind. Through it all, she maintained her dignity and her gentle ways. Her most cherished moments were when the priests or Eucharistic ministers would bring Communion to her in her apartment. No matter how distant she may have seemed, she always recognized the presence of Jesus. She would humbly bow her head, fold her hands, and pray before reverently receiving the Eucharist.

She was able to recognize all of her children until the end, always so grateful to see us when we would visit. On the day of her death, after weeks of being non-responsive, we four children and our spouses gathered around her bed. Her hospice nurse encouraged us to talk to her, even though she seemed not to know we were there. Since her birthday was the next day, we decided to sing her own special birthday song - a unique little tune passed down from her grandmother - to celebrate her turning 95 years old. As we sang, her eyes opened. When we concluded the song, her eyes closed. We took that as a sign that she indeed heard us, letting us know she knew we were there. It was her final comforting and beautiful gift to us. Within five minutes she quietly fell into eternal rest. We knew at that moment that she was reunited with her “Joe” and together they were welcomed into God’s loving arms.

Because of the current pandemic restrictions, funeral plans were postponed from March until permissible arrangements could be made. A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for September 16, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 3773 Chamblee Tucker Rd, Atlanta GA 30341. The date would have been Gloria and Joe’s 76th wedding anniversary.

Those attending must wear masks and maintain distancing guidelines. A private burial service will take place after the Mass, for family members only.

To offer condolences, please visit www.advantagelilburn.com In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Gloria Szabo to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia (www.epilepsy.org)