Gloria Marie (Zucco) Mulholland

Gloria Marie (Zucco) Mulholland, died peacefully, in Dayton, OH, on August 4, 2020 with family by her side. Gloria was born in Lowber, PA to Antonio and Adelina Zucco on October 16, 1927, the only daughter in a family of five sons (Silvio, Geno, Elmer, Frank, and Victor, all deceased). The family moved back to their northern Italian village of Frassene in 1928 at the start of the Depression, where Gloria attended early elementary school, and returned to Renton, a coalmining village in Plum, PA, in 1934. Gloria lived in Plum until she moved to Dayton, OH in 2018 for health reasons. Gloria was married to the late Lester Mulholland for 65 years.

Gloria is survived by her children: Linda (Wayne) Mercuri Fischbach of Dayton, OH; Lee (Eric) Miller of West Chester, PA; Gary (Greer) Mulholland of Pittsburgh, PA; and Bruce Mulholland (Michelle Dioguardi) of Jupiter, FL. Grandchildren: Amy (Dave) Mercuri Homan, Bradley (Soren) Stauffer-Kruse, Joseph Mercuri III, Eric (Erin) Stauffer, Nathan Mercuri, Molly (Tim) Mercuri Miller, Bayen (Emily McCloskey) Miller, Tannin (Erin) Miller, Kara Mulholland and Megan Mulholland. Ten great-grandchildren: Sam, Maura, Max and Ellie Homan; Cami Mercuri and Davy Mercuri Miller; Knolan and Kadence Miller; and Aida and Ivy Miller-McCloskey.

Gloria was an active member of St Januarius Roman Catholic Church in Renton, PA where she was a lay distributor, served on the church council and the altar society. Gloria was renown for her cooking and baking. She amazed patrons of the church’s yearly spaghetti and pork roast dinners with her culinary and organizational skills and work ethic. Gloria, beloved by students and teachers alike at Plum’s Center Elementary School, led the cafeteria staff for many years. Gloria and Les spent many happy winters at their home in Jupiter, FL upon retirement.

Gloria loved her family and her faith. In the Italian tradition, she saw feeding delicious meals to her family and friends as an act of love. In later life she found a new independence and savored it for as long as possible—visiting her family and friends, cooking, baking and playing pinochle. Gloria loved sports. She spent many hours enjoying the performances of her children and grandchildren, following her brother Vic’s football career with the Chicago Bears, and rooting for her beloved Penn State Nittany Lions from the stands at Beaver Stadium.

Her lifelong dream was realized in 2013 when Gloria returned to Italy with her children and their spouses to reconnect with her Marcon family cousins in Frassene. She was blessed with a long and full life. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren cherish the life lessons she taught, and the love that she showered upon them.

A funeral mass will be held in Dayton, OH at St Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church on Saturday August 29, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Friends may offer condolences at 10 a.m., prior to the start of the mass. Masks are required to be worn.

A memorial mass and celebration of Gloria’s life will be held at St. Januarius Church in Plum, PA at a date to be determined, followed by internment at Plum Creek Cemetery.

Gloria’s family is very grateful to the caring staff at 10 Wilmington Place where she resided for two years. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made payable to “10 Wilmington Place Employee Appreciation Fund” and mailed to 10 Wilmington Place at 10 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, OH 45420.

Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com