Gloria was born Margaret Gloria Muller in 1925 to Michael K. Muller and Minnie C. Rose Muller, the 4th of their daughters. In 1927 following the untimely loss of their mother and their father unable to find work to provide for the girls, Muller was forced to place his daughters in the foster care system. After several foster homes and a stay with the nuns in a Catholic Convent at Mission San Jose, the three youngest girls were fostered by the Stefanini’s who owned a large fruit tree ranch on Hamilton Avenue. It was there that Gloria spent the remainder of her childhood and referred to the Stefanini’s as “Auntie and Uncle”. She worked hard on the ranch and learned to cook in the Italian tradition.
Gloria graduated from Campbell High School. She was then hired by F.M.C. during WWII as a welding inspector for amphibious LVT-1 tanks for the war. This was where she met the love of her life, Kenneth Hall while inspecting his welding. They were married in 1945 and had two daughters.
Never learning to drive, Gloria walked or relied on the city bus. They had moved into a small bungalow in Willow Glen and she pushed her daughters all over Willow Glen in their strollers and often took long walks with her husband and sisters. She loved Bergmann’s department store and liked to window shop on Lincoln Avenue or take the bus and go exploring all over town with her sisters, daughters and grandchildren.
She was employed by Kress department store in downtown San Jose for over 13 years before retiring and was a long-time member of Sacred Heart Parish. At Sacred Heart she met Father John Coleman and Sister Josefina Montalvo who became lifetime friends.
Gloria will be remembered for her love of family, sharing stories of her life, tasty cooking, hospitality and impeccable housekeeping.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Kenneth and sisters Laura, Elsie and Martha. Surviving are daughters Carolyn (Allan), and Kathy (Jak), grandchildren Stephanie (Myron), Matthew (Laura), Ian, and Thais (Pierce) and great grandchildren Christina, Michael, Ryan and Wilson, as well as many nieces and nephews. Dearest Friend of Craig and family, Ginger and Sister Josefina.
The family would like to thank Harmonie Home Almaden and Vitas Hospice for their loving care of Gloria during her final months.
Due to Gloria’s wishes, her service will be private.
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