Gloria Alise Calabrese

Gloria A. Calabrese
1925 – 2018

Springfield – Gloria A. (Tonon) Calabrese, 93, passed away peacefully at Wingate of East Longmeadow on April 12, 2018. She was born in Stafford Springs, CT to the late Frank and Massimiliana (Carlet) Tonon on February 22, 1925. She grew up in Vittorio, Italy and graduated from St. Giovanni and Paolo Hospital, University of Venice in 1946 where she studied midwifery. She worked as a midwife for 6 years in Eraclea Mare, Venice and then 6 more years at Torre De Fine, Italy. Gloria delivered over 600 babies in Italy. After relocating to the U. S. she met her husband Dominic Calabrese. Gloria enjoyed knitting, being with family, meeting new people, and learning new things. She worked at Johnson Memorial Hospital, Stafford Springs, CT for 2 years and then Massachusetts Mutual as a clerk in the mail department for 22 years. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband of 41 years, Dominic Calabrese in 2012; her stepson, Gennaro Calabrese; and her brother Frank Tonon. She leaves her stepson, Joseph Calabrese and his wife Cathy of Hyannis, MA; 3 grandchildren, Peter and his wife Renee, Christina and Tom Devaney, and Sherri; 4 great-grandchildren, Jared, Gabriele, Julian, and Cooper; her brothers, Armando Tonon of Florence, Italy and Elio Tonon of East Longmeadow and his companion Jean Mango of Enfield; and many nieces and nephews and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Gloria’s Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 21st at 11AM in Holy Name Church, Springfield. Interment will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Holy Name Church, 323 Dickinson St. Springfield, MA 01108. Please visit www.forastiere.com to share a memory or leave a condolence for the family.