Gloria Charlene McCormick

Gloria Charlene McCormick, 91, entered her eternal reward on Saturday, February 17, 2018. Gloria was born on September 9, 1926, the youngest of four children, to Charles Sr. and Mamye (Marcucci) Billings.

A life-long resident of North Denver, Gloria was a beloved member of her community and extended family throughout her life. She was well-loved by all of her neighbors. Gloria especially cherished family, as evidenced by an always-kept-up-to-date wall or bulletin board filled with photographs of those whom she loved. She was generous and loved sending cards with gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and other celebrations. She developed wonderful friends and admirers wherever she dwelt, including her seasons at the Gardens of Saint Elizabeth assisted-living and Arvada Care and Rehabilitation facilities.

Gloria was a bright, dedicated scholar in her youth. Her grammar and spelling were always impeccable and her financial records were always correct to the penny. Throughout life she enjoyed reading and loved to play word games like Scrabble, do crossword puzzles, and solve crypto-grams. She was also fascinated by world geography and loved to peruse her maps and atlases.

A talented musician, Gloria played piano and organ for her parishes and at events in the Denver Archdiocese from her youth until very late in life. She enjoyed big-band music and dancing, and would tap and move rhythmically to the music—even when her dancing days were far behind her. In addition, she enjoyed classical music and opera. She loved Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas and for decades was the rehearsal accompanist for the Empire Lyric Players, an activity and group of friends she dearly cherished.

Gardening was another love of Gloria’s. Her Quivas Street front yard was nurtured into a small, but delightfully lush flower and succulent filled retreat and was enjoyed by family, neighbors, and passersby alike.

Gloria was diligent and dedicated in her professional life: first serving the Denver Catholic Register in circulation, and then—in her primary occupation—as a paralegal for decades in the law firm of Casey, Klene, & Wegs until retirement in her early seventies—her friendships from that time maintained and lastingly enjoyed until the day of her passing.

Always devoted to her Lord and her Catholic faith, Gloria loved to watch Eternal Word Television Network, and—late in life—had a renewed interest in and hunger for reading Scripture devotionally in a Giant Print RSV Catholic Edition Study Bible. She was an example of mercy and forgiveness to self and others, a quality which sustained and strengthened her love for God and others through the serious difficulties and trials she faced in life. She was a woman full of gratitude and thanksgiving for what she had, never complaining about what she didn’t have or couldn’t obtain.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, brother James, sisters Regina and Virginia, and an infant son, Gregg Edward. She is survived by four children: Kathleen (Mark), Joan, Dennis (Theresa), Daniel (Sherry); thirteen grandchildren: Matthew, Michael, Dan, Aimee, Jonathan, Tracey, Meghan, Joshua, Jacob, Elizabeth, Olivia, Sharla, and Tiffany; Eight great grandchildren: Jacob, Kameron, Tyler, Taite, Cooper, Kinley Joy, Graham, Ellie Jewell, Jack, Bailey, and Logan; along with many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and great grand nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by many.