I do miss my “Mama Bear”. She was always a bright spot on Sundays welcoming me with a lovely smile and hug when I arrived in church.  She was a great comfort to me when I was going through some difficult and sad times. RIP Miss Gloria   Love you Baby Bear


Ms Gloria or as I referred to as “Mama Bear” came into my life at church during a very tumultuous time of my life. My husband was fighting multiple cancers and after 16 years of fighting, he passed away.  Mama Bear was always a bright spot in my day whenever I saw her while she relayed the many adventures of her favorite cat, Pete, or any of the other creatures. She also was willing to listen and comfort me in difficult times with her sage advice.  Rich and I will surely miss her but have no doubt that she is in a better place with a new pain free body and is sharing Pete with our Lord.  RIP Mama Bear and God Bless and comfort Andee ,  Al and the whole family with peace and comfort.

Mother took her last breath around 11:01 pm on July 4th.  She passed very peacefully at home while fireworks were exploding outside.  She declared her freedom from this physical life on Independence Day.  From now on, July 4th will always be Mother’s Freedom Day.
Mother was not afraid of dying, but she was afraid of living too long.  She was ready and eager to meet Our Lord and Savior.
“Muvver,” I will miss your sweet voice, your laughter, your gorgeous eyes with the freckles, and holding your hand in church during the Lord’s Prayer.  But I am truly rejoicing that you are with Our Lord and that in your new body you can walk without pain or using a cane, and that you can hear all the sounds that you missed.
Mother loved bright colors, especially purples and pinks.  She would be incredibly pleased if people wore pretty colors in her honor.
Let me explain the confusion about Mother’s name.  My grandmother wanted to name her Naoma with an “A,” which is Cherokee.  The person who filled out the birth certificate misunderstood and wrote down Naomi with an “I.”  (There may have been a little divine intervention there.)  Her family and friends always called her Naoma.  When she came to live in Deltona, she decided to start using her middle name, Gloria, instead. 
Even as a child, Mother felt the need-to-know God.  Church was always important to Mother, and she made sure that it was part of her children’s upbringing. 
Family was especially important.  As much as she loved nursing and surgery, her favorite role was as mother to her two children, grandmother to two and great-grandmother to five.  She was as happy playing with dump trucks in the mud with my brother as she was playing with dolls and dress-up with me.  She loved keeping her grandchildren and taking them on adventures or shopping trips.
Mother was a life-long animal lover.  She loved almost every critter there was, except snakes.
There is so much I could say about my dear mother, but there isn't enough space here.

Circa 1963 - Mother was very proud of her 23-year career as an Operating Room nurse at University Hospital of Jacksonville (aka Shands Hospital / fka Duval Medical Center).

Circa 1967 - Mother, John C. O'Rourke, Jr., Andrea Wimberly

Mother loved singing in the church choir - St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, Jacksonville, FL.

OBITUARY

Naoma Gloria O'Rourke

May 23, 1930 – July 4, 2023

Deltona Memorial Funeral Home & Gardens

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