Gloria Sanguiliano, 90, died peacefully on June 16, 2022 at her residence in Winter Garden, Florida, after a long battle with dementia.
Gloria was born in Plainfield, New Jersey on October 28,1931 to Salvatore and Angelina Desiato. An only child, Gloria grew up surrounded by a large extended family with many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She lived with her parents in the house behind her father’s grocery store, working there after school and sneaking candy while she sat at the counter doing her homework.
Gloria graduated from Plainfield High School in 1949. After high school she worked in New York City as a secretary. She stayed home to raise her children when they were young and worked part time in the school cafeteria. Gloria owned her own home daycare, Glori Sitter Service, and after moving to Florida, she earned her Associate degree from Daytona Beach Community College and worked as a pre-school teacher.
Gloria married the love of her life, Fred Sanguiliano, on October 14,1951 at St. Bernard’s Church in Plainfield, NJ. They were married for 68 years, and together they raised three children and lived in Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Bridgewater, NJ before moving to Ormond Beach in 1984. Following Fred’s passing in January 2000, Gloria relocated to Winter Garden, Florida.
Gloria was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and her family was the center of her universe. More than anything, she loved spending time with them at the beach, where she taught her children and grandchildren how to body surf. Gloria liked cooking all kinds of Italian food and baking her special chocolate chip cookies for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, and quilting. Gloria always had an independent spirit and a sense of adventure. She traveled all over the United States with her husband and children. After retiring, she and Fred traveled to Italy, England and France and cruised to Alaska, the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.
Until the end, Gloria enjoyed singing her favorite songs from the 1940’s. These songs will always remind her family of her fun-loving spirit and her bright smile.
Gloria is pre-deceased by her husband of 68 years, Frederick Sanguiliano. She is survived by her children: Frederick Sanguiliano III and his wife Nancy, and daughters Linda O’Brien and her husband Richard and Salli Setta and her husband Greg; six Grandchildren: Marisa Bovenzi (Mike); Richard O’Brien, Jr. (Tina); Jenni Sanguiliano (Josh Lonski); Thomas O’Brien (Christina), Nikki McGrath (Pat) and Juliana Setta; and six great grandchildren; her uncle and aunt, Mike and Beverly DellaVentura, and her sister-in-law Elsie Kirchner.
Gloria’s family would like to add a special thanks to the caregivers, nurses and staff at Serenades by Sonata West Orange memory care and Cornerstone Hospice for the special care and attention they gave Gloria during her time in their care.
Visitation and service to be held on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 10am-12pm at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach. Internment to follow at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims.