Gloria passed away on Sunday, Feb 26th, at Harbourstone LTC, with her two sons at her bedside. The daughter of Concetta (DiNino) and Donato DiCesare of Pratola Peligna, Italy, Gloria was born in 1930 in Whitney Pier and attended Holy Redeemer Convent School. Soon after finishing High School she began working for the CBC. She had many happy memories of those early days with the CBC, including items she occasionally wrote and read on air.
She also worked many years with the Government of Canada and finished her work career there. In earlier years Gloria was involved in many community initiatives including organizing an educational program on heart and stroke prevention for area high school students.
An active member of St Theresa’s Parish, Sydney, for over fifty years, Gloria served on parish council, acted as hospitality minister, sang in the choir, and for many years wrote the Sunday mass prayers for the faithful. Gloria was also a longtime associate and devotee of the Congregation of Norte Dame and made many friends through this organization.
Gloria was proud of her Italian heritage and was involved for years with the Sydney Italian Cultural Association. But it was in the kitchen her heritage truly shone and she was never happier than when preparing a special Italian meal for her family or friends.
Family meant everything to Gloria and her grandson Samuel added much happiness to her life. She lived to see him graduate high school and university, and her love for him cannot be measured by any yardstick or door jamb.
Gloria had a number of close friends, many from the Italian community, who have since passed on. They will always be remembered for their friendship by her family. She always welcomed her sons many friends into her home.
Gloria is survived by her sons Paul (Faye) MacDougall and David (Jennifer Swansburg) MacDougall, her grandson Samuel MacDougall, her brother Donald (Gertie) DiCesare, nieces and nephews Don (Lisa) DiCesare, Judy (Rob) Sweetland, Jamie, Karen, Nancy and Kevin.
She was predeceased by her brother, Norman DiCesare, nephew, Bradley DiCesare, former husband Sinclair MacDougall, brother and sister-in-laws, John (Vivian) MacDougall, Harry (Rhea) MacDougall, Melvin MacDougall, and Ruby (Sylvester) Barron.
Special thanks to the kind and dedicated staff at Harbourstone LTC where Gloria resided the last sixteen months, Williston House staff and the Williston House ladies group of which Gloria was a member for eleven years, and Samuel’s friend Julia Bedell for all her support.
Visitation is March 2nd from 4-7 at TW Curry Parkview Chapel, Sydney. Funeral mass is at St. Theresa’s Church, Sydney on March 3rd at 11:00 am. Father Evo DiPierro officiating. Reception to follow at St Theresa’s Hall, St Peter’s Rd. Masks are appreciated. The service will be streamed on TW Curry’s Facebook page. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Society of the Little Flower,
https://ca.littleflower.org/get-involved/donate/
