LEOMINSTER---- Gloria “Nana” V. Toro of Leominster passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at UMass Memorial Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer.
Gloria was born in Medellin, Colombia to her parents, Joaquin Emilio and Maria Carolina Piedrahita. Gloria was a strong-willed and intelligent woman who had a great sense of humor which she enjoyed sharing with family and friends. She was always there to listen to someone and offer advice, if she thought it could help in some way. One of her passions was cooking dishes native to her Colombian heritage. Her meals and traditions she created always brought friends and family together around her table to enjoy great food and lively conversation. Her deepest love was her family and friends, especially her grandchildren of which she very proudly answered to the nickname of “Nana”.
Gloria was a stay at home mom until 1983 when she and her husband, Alfonso, started their own business, American Screw. She worked there as a bookkeeper until her retirement in 2010.
She leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 47 years, Alfonso Toro; daughter Geselle Valenti and her husband Chris and their children Carolina and Adriana; and son Alfonso Toro Jr and his wife Amy and their children Isabel, Gabriela, and Alessandra. Gloria was the middle child of five, her two older siblings Farben and Raul and her two younger siblings Maria Eneria and Leon Ramiro. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the caring staff at UMass Medical Center and Dr. Jan Cerny. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Gloria Toro may be made to University of Massachusetts: Memorial Foundation in support of Oncology. Gifts can be made online at www.umassmed.edu/advancement (click on the Make a Gift button) or mailed to: UMass Medicine Office of Advancement 333 South St. Shrewsbury, MA 01545. Checks should be made out to “UMMF – Oncology” and should note that the gift is in memory of Gloria Toro.
Gloria’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 from the Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home 106 West St. Leominster, with a 10am funeral mass in St. Cecilia’s Church 180 Mechanic St. Leominster. Burial will follow in St. Cecilia’s Cemetery. Calling hours in the funeral home are Monday June 6, 2016 from 5pm-7pm.
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