Edmonds, Washington - Gloria (age 81) passed away peacefully March 5, 2021, 5 years after being diagnosed with multi-system atrophy, a Parkinson's-like disease. She was surrounded by her three children and grandchildren.

Gloria and her siblings grew up with little means in a house her dad helped build in Tacoma. Growing up poor and Catholic helped shape who Gloria became, always wanting to help the people with the most need. Later in her life this turned into advocating for and volunteering with Seattle's homeless population. She was a passionate social justice advocate, a gift and a quality she passed on to her children and grandchildren. She was compassionate.

After receiving her nursing degree from St. Josephs Nursing School, she set out on amazing adventure with her best friend. Together they drove up the Alcan highway to Alaska to start a new life and at a time when young women just didn't do such a thing. While working as a nurse at Providence hospital she was selected to be Anchorage's first paramedic. She was a pioneer.

It was in Anchorage that she met her husband Frank and together they had three kids. Frank died in 1971 and Gloria was a single parent to 3 kids under the age of 7. She took them with her wherever she went and they spent summers exploring Alaska, camping and staying up late enjoying the long hours of light. She was a mother.

In 1983 Gloria adventured off to Chicago with the two youngest kids for an intensive one year Masters program in sociology at the University of Chicago. Later she finished her education at the University of Washington, earning a PhD in sociology. Gloria was proud to be called Doctor. She retired from teaching Sociology after 20 years at Central Washington University at the age of 72. She was a teacher.

Gloria had a hearty laugh and always thought she was funnier than her kids did. At the age of 74 she fulfilled a long-held dream of pursuing stand-up comedy! She wrote and performed 2 acts and the joke was on her kids: she was actually funny!

Gloria was a daughter, a sister, a mother and aunt but being Nana to Vanina, Sydney and Ethan brought out the best in her. She shined as Nana. You could always count on Nana for the best cheese sandwiches, telling stories from her childhood, and acting out whatever part they wanted for their movies. It was only with Gloria's help that her daughter was able to raise her three kids as mostly a single parent. She was generous.

Among the gifts she is leaving to the family are a love of rummy, camping, baseball, Christmas, a charitable and independent spirit, sarcasm, and comedic over dramatization such as "we're all gonna die!"

Gloria is survived by her three children Julia, David and Cynthia Beckley, Grandchildren Vanina, Sydney and Ethan, and Great Grandchildren Manny and Ava, as well as Sister Marie Culley and Brother Dick Tomko.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her name to Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU, or locally to NeighborCare, which offers medical care to the homeless