Gloria Angelina Maria Davino

Gloria Angelina Maria Davino arrived into the world on August 22, 1929, born to Alfonso and Josephine Davino of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Gloria was born into a large Italian family, as one of 9 siblings, she began blazing her own path as a young woman and always remained a caretaker to her family. Gloria married Searl Golladay in 1952, Gloria and Searl had three daughters during their union; Pamela Ann, born November 18, 1953; Victoria Lynn, born January 7, 1956; and Catherine Marie, born August 31, 1958. Gloria and Searl parted ways and Gloria became a single mother to three girls during an era where that was very difficult. Gloria made it look easy, ensuring her girls always had everything they needed and always dressed all three girls beautifully with all of the finishing touches. Gloria took great pride in her girls and ensured they never went without.

Gloria worked at Mercy Hospital in the Cafeteria beginning in 1968, she worked there until she retired in 1993. When Pam, Vicky, and Cathy got into their young adult years and married themselves, Gloria remarried to Robert Bischoff and she remained married to him until he passed away in 2004. Gloria was blessed with 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and once the grandchildren began arriving, Gloria’s happy place was surrounded by all of them. Gloria loved hosting large family gatherings at her home and ensuring the grand-children and great-grandchildren were well versed in their family history and secret family recipes. Gloria also had an incredible ability to love her daughters’ spouses as her own children and they loved her as a mother. Gloria never knew a stranger. Her ability to figure out how she knew a perfect stranger through talking to them for five minutes was amazing. Whether Gloria knew you for 30 years or 10 minutes, no one was a stranger. Everyone who walked through her door was offered tea, coffee, a sweet treat or a full out meal – at least four times – and a comfortable seat to chat for as long as you wanted to. Gloria was a sweet, smart, sassy, strong woman who never gave up – no matter what obstacles came her way, she wanted to live as long as she could and fought as hard as she could until her body said no more. Gloria’s gift of chat didn’t stop until a day prior to her passing.

Gloria left the world on March 5, 2023 much as she arrived, at home and surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her, just how she always planned it to be, after a day spent of having a houseful of family there to say their goodbye’s and show her their love, she took her last breaths with Pamela, Victoria, and Tom right by her side in her own bed. She is now at peace with her parents, brothers Alfonso “Moe” & George as well as her youngest daughter, Cathy and son-in-law Herbie. Please join her daughters; Pamela (Tom) and Victoria, grandchildren; Bryan (Kelly), Jamie, Sarrah, Adam, Jessica (Jeff), Ashley (Zachary), Lucas (Stephanie), and Hannah, great-grandchildren; Bailee (John), Lauryn, Alexis, Aydan, Gavin, Reese, Paisley, Sieger, and Lucas in a day of remembering Gloria and in doing something she loved doing - sharing stories of her life and your memories of her so that her spirit may continue to live on in all of us. The family asks that you wear a little bit of pink as you join them as that was Gloria’s favorite color and that always made her smile.

A time of sharing will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023, at 1PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Friday, from 11AM until the time of sharing at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Caring Circle, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 269-556-9450.