Gloria Deprisco Hutchinson

Gloria DePrisco Hutchinson passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at her home in Lakewood, New Jersey, at the age of 97. She was beloved by her five children: Cynthia, Sharon, Nancy, Richard, and Linda. While Gloria encountered grief with the loss of Richard and Cynthia in 1981 and 1995, she found solace from her three remaining daughters, Sharon, Nancy and Linda, whom she referred to as her “Three Graces.” Gloria was also a loving grandmother to Jasmine Hutchinson Avesar, Edward Hutchinson, Matthew Dunn, Zachary Dunn, and Marisa Malone, and great-grandmother to Benjamin and Miles Avesar.

Gloria was born to the late Rosalie and Louis DePrisco of Delaware and was later joined by her younger brother Louis, who now resides in Naples, Florida with his wife Mary. Gloria has four surviving nephews, Rick, John, Jim and Joe DePrisco. Gloria’s birth family were enterprising first-generation immigrants from Poland and Italy. Her parents weathered the great depression in her early life, and her mother instilled in her a love of education. Gloria excelled in school and received a scholarship to attend the University of Delaware Women’s College. She was one of the first women to be accepted into the engineering program when the University went co-ed in 1945.

During a break in her education, while working at Westinghouse, Gloria met her future husband David Hutchinson, a mechanical engineer. They married in 1950 and moved from New York City to Mamaroneck, NY, where they raised five children. After the couple’s divorce in 1972, Gloria moved to Bethel, CT with her youngest children and resumed her career at AT&T in White Plains, NY. While working full-time, she completed her college degree by attending evening classes in Computer Science at Iona College. Her children were very proud to attend her college graduation when she completed her bachelor’s degree in 1985 at the age of 59!

During her career as a computer analyst, Gloria was responsible for programming the complex logistical schedules for deploying telecom enhancements, and was eventually promoted to management. Although she retired from AT&T/NYNEX in 1991, she was later recalled to support the implementation of Y2K software updates in 1998-1999.

Throughout her adult life Gloria was a dedicated volunteer and advocate in her community. In both Mamaroneck and Bethel, she was an active member of the local St. Thomas Church and Women’s Club. She took on leadership roles in a number of other women’s groups, and served as CT State President of the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Assoc. At a charity event in 1996, she met her second love, Paul Martin of Westport, Connecticut, and they remained together until his passing in 2002.

One of Gloria’s most recent and notable volunteer accomplishments, which she completed in her mid-late 80’s, was leading the establishment of a “Vets Oasis” at over a dozen public college and university campuses across CT. They are dedicated locations, furnished and supplied by CT Women’s Clubs, where local veterans can meet and get support. She also worked to raise awareness of the rising rates of suicide among veterans returning from war and their need for greater support. As a part of these efforts, Gloria met with then CT Governor Jody Rell:

Gloria never stopped learning and making the most of life. She took investment courses and managed her own retirement portfolio. She taught classes to senior citizens on how to use the computer and email. She enjoyed traveling to Egypt and China. She was a social member of the “Red Hat Society.” She enjoyed nonfiction books, keeping up on the news, and surfing the internet! She would say with pride that her family lived into their 90s, and her family organized a reunion in Florida to celebrate her 90th birthday!

In 2019, at age 93, Gloria moved to an apartment at Harrogate, a Continuing Care Community located in Lakewood, NJ, where she loved the friendly residents, caring staff, fun activities, and the company of her close friend, Jean Barlow. Gloria had an amazing life, and was fortunate to pass peacefully, while still living an active, independent life in relatively good health. She left a meaningful legacy full of family, independence, charity and rich memories.

A funeral service for Gloria will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM at St. Thomas Church, 95 Greenwood Avenue, Bethel, CT 06801, where her ashes will be interred. A ‘Celebration of Life’ gathering will also be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM in the Lounge at Harrogate, 400 Locust Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.DEliaFuneralHome.com for the Hutchinson family.