Gloria Mary Forehand

Gloria Mary Bremerman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 26, 1924 to Bernhard "Ben" Bremerman and Veronica ("Vera") Thaller Bremerman. Less than a year later came the arrival of her sister and only sibling, Phyllis.

Gloria's earliest memories involved lots of happy times with her many relatives in New Orleans. But in 1930, when she was 6 years old, the Great Depression forced a family move to faraway Syracuse, New York, for a job for her father. The move was a culture shock for the entire family. But they made new friends and did their best to adjust to the huge difference in weather. They all experienced snow for the first time (and plenty of it!), and Santa brought Gloria and Phyllis a sled for their first Christmas in Syracuse.

The family later lived briefly in Queens, NYC before settling in Washington, D.C. circa 1940.

Gloria graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. in 1942 and immediately went to work as a typist for an insurance company. Later that same summer, she was set up by friends on a blind date with D. Norwood Forehand (whom she promptly nicknamed "Woody"). Mr. Forehand had come to Washington from his hometown of Conway, S.C. to work for the federal government. Their first date was a boat ride down the Potomac River for an evening at the old Marshall Hall amusement park in Maryland.

The couple became engaged the next year, and when Woody was drafted to report for Army training and World War II service, they quickly planned an earlier-than-expected wedding, on November 4, 1943. Like so many wartime couples, the newlyweds were soon apart, keeping in touch by letters only, until Woody finally made it home in 1946 after the war.

For the next 10 years, the couple worked in downtown Washington and commuted together while living in District Heights, Maryland. Their daughter, Carolyn, was born in 1957; and soon after the family settled in Adelphi, Maryland.

Gloria worked as an executive secretary to the owner of the old McGregor and Werner printing firm in Washington throughout the 1970's. It was while handling her boss' affairs there that she learned how much success one could have in the stock market. Gloria was inspired to self-teach herself about the world of business and investing, and remained an avid investor throughout her life. She was past the age of 80 when she learned to use a computer -- inspired solely by the desire to keep up with her stocks online.

Gloria finished her career as an administrative assistant in the executive suite of the Marriott Corporation, and retired from there in 1985.

Gloria traveled frequently in the early years of her retirement, visiting Europe several times, Hawaii, Canada, and China. There were cruises throughout the Caribbean and to Alaska, as well as visits to various U.S. cities. She also enjoyed yearly beach vacations in Ocean City with her daughter and family while her grandsons were growing up.

Gloria was a domestic goddess "extraordinaire" throughout her adult life! She was a wonderful cook and baker and always enjoyed entertaining friends and family. For more than 70 years, she baked many dozens of cookies every Christmas season, which were eagerly anticipated by the family, friends and neighbors she generously distributed them to. And her homemade pies were legendary.

Gloria could -- and did -- sew anything to perfection on her beloved sewing machine, from a tiny dress for a Barbie doll to an enormous pair of 12-feet wide by 8-feet tall pair of pinch-pleated draperies. She made many, many articles of clothing for both herself, and her daughter as a child.

Gloria realized her hope of "aging in place" in her own condo. Though her last few years were spent homebound, she still enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and reading novels, almost to the end.

Gloria was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her sister Phyllis Vogel, and her nephew and godchild, Carl Vogel. She leaves her daughter, Carolyn Pierce; son-in-law Douglas Pierce; grandsons Gregory Pierce (and wife, Alicia); and Kenneth Pierce; and great-grandchildren Kayla Pierce, Jacob Pierce and Ethan Pierce.

A visitation for Gloria will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM at The Little Church at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home, 3401 BLADENSBURG RD, BRENTWOOD, MD 20722, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 PM.