Obituary for Gloria Elizabeth Wanner
Chronology - Gloria Elizabeth Wanner (née Groepler)
Gloria was born on February 9, 1937 to Marion and Charles Groepler in Oceanside, Long Island, New York.
Gloria had a sister, June, born February 19, 1940 who predeceased her and has a brother, Richard, born just short of fifteen years after Gloria.
Gloria’s early life was spent in small town Oceanside NY. There she attended elementary, junior and Oceanside High School graduating in1955.
She left Oceanside to attend nursing school at Southampton School of Nursing, a comprehensive three year program, affiliated with Southampton Hospital, where she earned her Registered Nursing Degree in September 1958.
She met her future husband, Frederick (Fred) Wanner, on June 29, 1958, at a dance in Franklin Square Long Island. They had a fun courtship that largely took place on the East End of Long Island that gave them a lifetime of fond memories. They were married on June 14, 1959, honeymooned in the Smoky Mountains and began married life in Fred’s parents upstairs apartment in Rego Park, Queens.
Daughter Heidi was born on July 13, 1960. Gloria started her very long lived nursing position in the obstetrics unit of St. John’s Queens Hospital in 1962, where she worked part time in order to have time with her family. Daughter Christina was born on Dec 14, 1965.
Gloria devoted her life to caring for her family, and supported her daughter’s activities in school, Sunday school and outside, such as Brownies, Girl Scouts and music.
Gloria loved the beaches of the East End of Long Island, especially Southampton and Montauk. The family would take a vacation in either Montauk or Shelter Island every summer for many years.
After Gloria’s children grew up, she continued her nursing work and channeled her energies into creative endeavors such as knitting, crocheting and baking.
When daughter Christina (known as Chrys) moved to Alaska and got married there, Gloria experienced her first airline flight in July 1989. (And what a long first flight that was!) After that, Gloria made regular trips to Alaska to visit her daughters a part of her regular life.
Gloria retired from her registered nurse work in the Fall of 1999. She took on a regular volunteer position at an elder care facility, Ozanam Hall, in Bayside Queens. Gloria was a spiritual person throughout her life and was involved in multiple activities at her church Emmanuel United Church of Christ.
Gloria suffered a debilitating stroke in November 2014. Effects of this stroke eventually left her bed bound.
Gloria and Fred celebrated their 60th anniversary last June. Gloria passed away on March 3, 2020.
Gloria is survived by her beloved husband Fred, their cat, her daughter Chrys, and her husband Jerry and granddaughter talented Serenity, and their two dogs, cat, two geckos and her daughter Heidi, partner Chuck and their four amazing dogs.
Gloria was born on February 9, 1937 to Marion and Charles Groepler in Oceanside, Long Island, New York.
Gloria had a sister, June, born February 19, 1940 who predeceased her and has a brother, Richard, born just short of fifteen years after Gloria.
Gloria’s early life was spent in small town Oceanside NY. There she attended elementary, junior and Oceanside High School graduating in1955.
She left Oceanside to attend nursing school at Southampton School of Nursing, a comprehensive three year program, affiliated with Southampton Hospital, where she earned her Registered Nursing Degree in September 1958.
She met her future husband, Frederick (Fred) Wanner, on June 29, 1958, at a dance in Franklin Square Long Island. They had a fun courtship that largely took place on the East End of Long Island that gave them a lifetime of fond memories. They were married on June 14, 1959, honeymooned in the Smoky Mountains and began married life in Fred’s parents upstairs apartment in Rego Park, Queens.
Daughter Heidi was born on July 13, 1960. Gloria started her very long lived nursing position in the obstetrics unit of St. John’s Queens Hospital in 1962, where she worked part time in order to have time with her family. Daughter Christina was born on Dec 14, 1965.
Gloria devoted her life to caring for her family, and supported her daughter’s activities in school, Sunday school and outside, such as Brownies, Girl Scouts and music.
Gloria loved the beaches of the East End of Long Island, especially Southampton and Montauk. The family would take a vacation in either Montauk or Shelter Island every summer for many years.
After Gloria’s children grew up, she continued her nursing work and channeled her energies into creative endeavors such as knitting, crocheting and baking.
When daughter Christina (known as Chrys) moved to Alaska and got married there, Gloria experienced her first airline flight in July 1989. (And what a long first flight that was!) After that, Gloria made regular trips to Alaska to visit her daughters a part of her regular life.
Gloria retired from her registered nurse work in the Fall of 1999. She took on a regular volunteer position at an elder care facility, Ozanam Hall, in Bayside Queens. Gloria was a spiritual person throughout her life and was involved in multiple activities at her church Emmanuel United Church of Christ.
Gloria suffered a debilitating stroke in November 2014. Effects of this stroke eventually left her bed bound.
Gloria and Fred celebrated their 60th anniversary last June. Gloria passed away on March 3, 2020.
Gloria is survived by her beloved husband Fred, their cat, her daughter Chrys, and her husband Jerry and granddaughter talented Serenity, and their two dogs, cat, two geckos and her daughter Heidi, partner Chuck and their four amazing dogs.