Gloria Louise Crisci Obituary
Gloria Louise Crisci, aged 89 years, a longtime resident of Norwalk passed away on Friday, May, 29, 2020 in New Canaan, CT. She was born in Queens, NY to the late Alberto Gisolfi and Concetta Cantarella on January, 4, 1931.
Gloria attended Grover Cleveland High in Ridgewood, NY, before relocating to Norwalk, CT where she worked as a telephone operator for AT&T until the early 1960s, and, thereafter, as a switchboard operator for NBC Studios in New York.
She was an active member in the Catholic Church, and each of the communities she lived in throughout her life, playing many roles, such as a surrogate to neighborhood at-risk children, volunteer, a CNA specializing in elder care, and a qualified lay minister of several churches.
Faith, family and crocheting were Gloria's passions. She was devoted to daily meditation through the rosary and practiced it faithfully her entire life.
She grew up during the Second World War and the Great Depression, meeting the late Anthony Crisci, (d. May, 1983) a war hero who had served under General MacArthur, and the only man she ever loved, in the summer of 1946. They married in October of 1949 in Norwalk, CT. In the early 1960s, they returned with their children to New York City and settled in an apartment building they purchased in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The youngest of eleven children, Gloria enjoyed spending weekends in Norwalk, CT with her brothers, Albert, Rudy and Vincent Gisolfi, her sisters, Millie Greco, Blanche Ciccolini, and Nancy Stabile (her identical twin), her niece, Roberta Sylvestri, her sister-in-laws, Viola, Phyllis and Millie Gisolfi, and brother-in-laws, Dominic Ciccolini and John Stabile. She had too many lifelong friends to mention here.
After returning to Norwalk, in the 1970s, Gloria worked as a receptionist with FAG Bearings and then spent time in Jerusalem, Egypt, and Rome. She enjoyed time on the ocean with her only daughter, Alberta Croce, and spent long weekends at her, with her and her devoted son-in-law, Patrick, at their home in Monroe, NY. During this same period, she reveled in hosting summers for their child, her eldest granddaughter, Jean Gloria.
She remained in Norwalk until the age of seventy-seven. In 2008, Gloria moved to Hamden, CT to be near her youngest son Chris. The two shared a close and mutually supportive relationship for the next ten years until she relocated to Waveny Lifecare Network, spending her final years there, under the watchful care of its wonderful staff, Chris and her loving and devoted son Art.
Gloria loved and deeply touched the lives of all those she knew. She was the matriarch of her family and a touchstone in the lives of her children, eldest grandchild and many friends. Her life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32 —'And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.'
She was the mother of five children: Alberta, Ernest, Anthony & Arthur, and Christopher Crisci. She is survived by her sons, Anthony, Arthur and Christopher, son-in-laws Patrick Croce, Joseph Fedele, daughter-in-laws, Traci Crisci and Victoria Dunham (a devoted advocate throughout her final years), grandchildren, Jean Fedele (only child of her late daughter, Alberta Croce), Alison Crisci Tuner, Elizabeth Crisci, Anthony Crisci (children of her late son, Ernest Crisci), Bryan & Meghan Crisci, and Emma & Michael Crisci. She leaves four great-grandchildren, Joanna, Janice and Jillian Fedele, and Hudson Ernie Crisci, along with nieces, Roberta Sylvestri, Janice Montellesse, Cetti Clock, Nancy Croce and nephew, Rudy Gisolfi.
Gloria will be interred at St. John's Cemetery in Norwalk, along side her devoted husband, Anthony, and steps away from her loving children, Alberta (d. February, 1995) and Ernie. (d. December, 2003), each of whom she has already rejoined in paradise.
The family requests donations be made in Gloria's name to BiblesForTheWorld.org.
