Gloria Hannafin

Gloria Hannafin was born September 20, 1929, to Gustave and Mary Schettig in Piermont, New York. While she and her brothers, Jerry and Buddy, were raised to work hard, and the era in which they were born demanded it, anyone who knew Gloria knew that working hard was something that was inherent in her nature and would be the characteristic that would define her life.

She grew up on the shore of the Hudson River, admiring its beauty and often stating how the river looked different each day. As a young girl she could tell the day’s weather by looking out over the water.

She excelled in school, earning a scholarship to Katherine Gibbs College, but chose instead to work to help support her family. She began commuting into Manhattan, working for a record company and handing off royalty checks to a grateful Tony Bennet when he would come to the office.  It was while working there that she met the love of her life, Jack.

They soon married, and moved to their apartment in Jackson Heights and, later, their home in Valley Stream. They devoted themselves to their church, their community, and their children; Laura, Mark, Daniel, Jack, Michael, Steven, and Luke, as well as their grandchildren; Shannon, Michael, James, Faith, and great grandson, Luke.

Gloria was a den mother in the Cub Scouts, a devoted member of the Rosary Society, (later merged with the Holy Name Society), and she and Jack spent countless Mondays running the bingo game in the basement of Blessed Sacrament Church.

She was devastated by Jack’s passing in 1999, but it also opened a whole new chapter in her life. She developed a love for travel, particularly for visiting holy sites around the world. Her friend Mary reignited a love for opera, and she would look forward each year to her “Opera Night” where she could indulge in a luxurious night of music and fine dining.

It was during this time that she began working again as a caregiver, something she had a great deal of experience with. As much as she gave to her clients, she gained much from them as well, always eager to learn about different cultures and beliefs and often growing and challenging her own point of view.

Gloria was a woman in constant motion. She did everything to make sure that she’d done and experienced everything she wanted to in life, and she would encourage everyone reading this to enjoy life’s richness to run, to smile, to dance, to hug, to sing, in celebration of her life.