Gloria J. Spera, 89, of Bolivar, passed away on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at Aultman Woodlawn Hospice in Canton, Ohio after a brief illness.
Born September 18, 1932, in New Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late Edyth V. and Victor J. Barnish.
Gloria attended New Philadelphia High School and on July 7, 1953, she married Vernon P. Spera of Canton. They then managed the 9-unit apartment building where they lived in Canton before buying their first home, also in Canton. She was then a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, especially Italian food, sewing, and crafts like ceramics. They enjoyed traveling during the summers and had visited most of the central and western states in the U.S. She particularly loved Wyoming, the Teton Mountains and Colorado. They moved to Bolivar in 1977. Gloria loved interior decorating and every room of her home was always magazine picture-perfect. Gloria and Vern celebrated nearly 52 years of marriage before Vern’s passing in 2005. In her later years, Gloria enjoyed reading, movies, watching the birds in her backyard, going out to dinner, and especially visiting with family and friends.
Gloria was selfless, kind, caring, very generous, and always appreciative. She loved to laugh and make others laugh and have a good time. She loved all animals but especially cats, having cared for 6 cats throughout her life that were all very special to her. She was also a generous supporter of animal shelters, especially the Tuscarawas County Humane Society.
Gloria is survived by sister Kimberly (Scott) Banko of University Hts, Ohio, brother Ronald (Edythe) of New Philadelphia, a niece, 2 nephews as well as cousins, including special cousin Sharleen Cotopolis of Canton, special friend Betty Glasserman of Bolivar and special caregiver Norma Johnson of Canton. Gloria will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
The family would like to thank the staff at Aultman Hospital Memorial 6 South and Aultman Woodlawn Hospice for their care and compassion.
At Gloria’s request, a private graveside service will be held at Fort Laurens Cemetery in Bolivar with Deacon Lyn Houze officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in memory of Gloria J. Spera to the Tuscarawas County Humane Society or an animal shelter of your choice. The Lebold-Smith Funeral Home in Bolivar is handling the arrangements. To share a memory of Gloria, please visit the funeral home’s website at www.leboldsmithfuneralhome.com
Lebold-Smith
330-874-3113
www.smithfuneral.com
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