Obituary

Gloria Viola Simonetta, age 92 of Goodyear, AZ died September 11, 2018, in Surprise, AZ.  She was born December 13, 1925, in Vineland, NJ to Victor Emanuel Schiapelli and Malinda Viola Fagan.  Gloria lived in Vineland for 37 years.  As a young girl, she loved big band music and would often go to the steel pier in Atlantic City, NJ to see Frank Sinatra.  She was an excellent seamstress and worked for the clothing factories in Vineland.  One of her assignments was making Eisenhower jackets for the military.

Gloria was an excellent housewife and a great friend.  She was very social and enjoyed meeting new people and finding out about their lives.  She enjoyed spending summer days at the Jersey Shore in Sea Isle City and Ocean City.  She loved to eat seafood and Italian food.  Her free time was often spent reading or sewing.  She would always sew pj’s for Christmas, send handwritten cards and made many handmade wedding presents as well as wedding gowns.

Gloria moved to Las Vegas and then to  Arizona in 2002 because she wanted to be where it was warm and dry.  Having her family close to her was an added bonus.  She joined the LAFF Club at Christ Presbyterian Church and loved attending their meetings.  She continued to sew and volunteered to make clothing for kids going back to school.  Her love of sewing stayed with her until her health challenges robbed her of the ability to continue.

Gloria is survived by her son, Leo A Simonetta; daughters, Jacalyn G. Cunnane, and Madlyn M. Laurent; brothers, Peter J. and Victor E. Schiapelli; sister, Carolyn Brode; four grandchildren, Jonathan and Justin Cunnane, and Reese and Riley Simonetta; and two great-grandchildren Eden and Avery Cunnane.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 6, 2018, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ  85338.