Gloria Theresa LaMantia

Gloria Theresa Flanagan LaMantia went home to Our Lord on February 2, 2020. Gloria was born on November 13, 1929 to Peter and Emily Flanagan in Brooklyn, New York. She was sister to Margaret, Martha, Mary, and Peter. Gloria married Dominick LaMantia on November 12, 1949. In their nearly 70 years of marriage, they had six sons; Daniel, Robert, Michael, Brian, Patrick, and Sean. Besides raising her children, she also worked the switchboard at Peninsula hospital in Far Rockaway, New York. After being snowbirds for years, Dominick, Gloria, and Patrick moved to Florida full time in 1998.

She is survived by five of her sons; Daniel, Robert, Brian, Patrick, and Sean, eight grandchildren; Angela, Suzanne, Nancy, Jonathan, Mariel, Alyssa, Emily and Toni, two great grandchildren; Skylar and Alexa as well as countless nieces and nephews. Her niece Kathy lived with and took care of her in her later years.

Gloria passed away at home surrounded by her family on February 2, 2020 and is now happily reunited with her son Michael and husband Dominick.

Grandma Glo…

When I think of Grandma Glo, I picture her red hair, the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I remember her hugs, they could cure a broken heart. She always knew the right thing to say or do and had a way of making a person feel special and loved.

By the time I was born, Gloria already had 6 grandkids. She was the best grandmother. So much so, that when I think of her, I often forget that she was so much more. She was a professional grandma, how could she be more..? Well, she was.

GG was a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, and a friend. And she so greatly fulfilled each role she had in life.

A mother that would do anything for her family. One that loved her children beyond, above and unconditionally.

A great sister who cared for her siblings, and also loved their children like her own.

An outstanding daughter, always lending a hand to her parents. She also provided a loving space for her sick mother in law, Grandma Tootsie.

A great friend. She was so fun and witty. Grandma always knew how to throw a good party and I think that’s where we all get our hospitality from.

And lastly, Gloria was a wife to our Pop, Dominick. Together, they spent their whole lives creating and shaping this huge family all while making the best memories.. A true testament to the vows “For better or for worse, in sickness and in Health”

I’d like us all to take a moment to embrace her life… and her death.

Grandma, Mom, Gloria, We thank you for all of the light you’ve shed on our lives. Even in this time of grief, we find comfort knowing that your health is now restored. You no longer feel pain. You can see again. And there are so many important people waiting for you in heaven. We will always love you. And instead of saying goodbye, I’d rather say goodnight.

I’ll conclude with this story. A few nights before grandma passed, Alyssa and I were able to FaceTime with her, thanks to the girls. We told her about our lives, some goals and aspirations. She started to get tired, so Sue told us to say goodnight. Like twins, we said, “I love you Grandma, goodnight.” She followed with, “I love you, goodnight.” I think we all knew, in that moment, we were speaking with each other for the last time. That word became a bit more important after that night. Anyways, I’d like to think it’s a little sweeter to say goodnight instead of goodbye. We will see her again someday, so until then, goodnight it is.......