Gloria M.

Brunelli

Gloria Mary Brunelli passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the age of 98.

Mom married her late husband John on October 29, 1947. They were married for 53 years and shared a lifetime of happiness. John "Big John" loved Gloria and would always say yes to whatever she asked. She was the daughter of the late Angelo and Mary Cervone. Separately, her parents bravely sailed the Atlantic Ocean from Italy and Czechoslovakia in the early 1900's to set up home in NYC.

Gloria was the youngest of the five siblings, all predeceased, Tony, Emil, Phyliss and Catherine. Her sisters and brothers were her close friends. Gloria who preferred to be called "G", spoke to one or all of her siblings every day.

Gloria is survived by her loving children, Karla Lomangino and her husband Fred, John and his wife Carmela, Stephen and his late wife Cassandra and cherished grandchildren, Stephen Jr, predeceased, Matthew, Nicholas and Stacey, and Alexandra and Sean. Gloria loved her grandchildren with all her heart and smiled whenever their names were mentioned.

Gloria was raised in the Bronx and Harlem. She was a stay a home mom raising her three children. There weren't any large supermarkets so Gloria would take her children for a walk most every day to visit the butcher shop and grocery store. When her children were older, she would watch them play on the block. The kids were only permitted to ride bikes or play on 120th street. Leaving the block was not allowed. Gloria was a very good cook and many of her recipes we still make ourselves. Whenever Big John would get tickets to the Copacabana her eyes would sparkle. G loved music and the entertainment. Three performers at the Copa she frequently mentioned were Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante and Tom Jones. She loved New York and was sad when we moved to New Jersey. For the following 64 years, Palisades Park would be home. Once Gloria settled into her new surroundings, she found a new two-family house and brought her parents from NYC to live. Every year we would travel back into the city to dine at Carmines and see a Broadway play. Mom enjoyed walking around and loved the Lights on Broadway. Most recently she attended the weddings of Nicholas and Stacey on November 23, 2022 and Alexandra and Sean on October 14, 2023.                    Gloria's smile, wit, humor and love will continue to live within our hearts.