Obituary of Gloria DeRosa

Gloria DeRosa, a woman who overcame the effects of Polio to become a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away Wednesday morning at the Winchester Hospital. She was 87 years old. Gloria was born in Boston, the daughter of Italian immigrants, the late Rocco and Filomena Gregorio. Gloria grew up in Bronx, New York. Gloria was stricken with Polio as a child and for most of her life she struggled with walking. She did not let the effects of Polio hinder her life. She met her future husband, Anthony “Whitey” DeRosa while living in the Bronx. Her family then moved to the North End of Boston to open a restaurant. She married Anthony and they lived in Somerville for 11 years, before settling in Burlington 51 years ago. Gloria was blessed to have 3 sons. She worked at home as a ceramics teacher, telemarketer, and assembler. She was a fantastic cook and shared that talent with her sons and daughters-in-law. She enjoyed working on her computer and going to Bingo with her friends. Gloria had a strong catholic faith and a great devotion to Madonna Del Soccorso. Her family celebrated the Saint’s feast on the first Saturday of August for over 60 years, first in the North End and then in Burlington. As the effects of her childhood Polio intensified in her later years, Gloria’s sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren lovingly cared for her. Gloria was the beloved wife of the late Anthony P. “Whitey” DeRosa. She was the loving mother of Anthony & his wife Lorraine of Salem, NH, Rocco & his wife Peggy and John & his wife Susan all of Burlington. Sister of the late Lucy Savarese & her late husband John and the late Josephine Gregorio. Grandmother of Deanna Dufour, Danielle Rodriguez, and Anthony, Mark, Rocco, Matthew, Kerri, Jake, Jessica & Thomas DeRosa. Great grandmother of Matthew and Audrey Dufour. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 11:30 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday 5-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Gloria’s name may be made to Saint Benedict Center, The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in honor of Madonna Del Soccorso, PO Box 1000, Still River, MA 01467.