Gloria T. Papciak
Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend and so much more
Gloria T. Papciak, 83 of Bloomfield, NJ passed away peacefully in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.
Funeral Services will begin on Saturday, April 1 at 9 am at Shook’s Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 am at Our Lady of the Holy Angels R.C. Church, Little Falls. Visitation will be on Friday, March 31 from 4-8 pm at the funeral home.
Born Gloria Theresa Marie D’Acunti in 1939 in Newark, NJ to Antoinette and John D’Acunti, she was a 1957 graduate of Barringer High School. Through her friend Barbara, who eventually would become her sister-in-law, she met her husband, Henry (Hank) Papciak in 1960. They married on February 24, 1962 and welcomed the first of their four children in late December of that same year. After living in Newark for nearly 10 years, they moved their family to Bloomfield, NJ in 1971.
Predeceased by her parents and brother, Rudolfo, Gloria leaves behind to mourn her devoted husband of 61 years and attentive caregiver, Hank; her children Lisa Papciak and husband Robert (Garry) Fletcher; Laura Papciak and husband Trevor Weigle; Anastasia (Stacie) Soules and husband Robert; Andrew Papciak and his wife Maureen. Her seven grandchildren, Robert Fletcher, Mindy Blue and her husband Perry, Senech Fletcher and his wife Ashley, Alexa Soules, Michael Soules and his husband Anthony Russo, Daniel Soules, and Meagan Papciak, six great-grandchildren Devin, Dillon and Dayton Blue and Gage, Riley and Makayla Fletcher, and one great-great grandchild Cyrus Blue. No matter where each lives across the country they cherish Gloria’s love of them.
Gloria is also survived by her big brother Michael D’Acunti and wife Angie from Pembroke Pines, FL, and baby brother Marc D’Acunti and wife Joann of Verona, NJ. Many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends also mourn her passing, but especially her beloved “Wit Sisters” Joan Corsi and Rise Cornielusen, and her faithful “sisters in faith” Cathy Hedden and Barbara Nagle.
Gloria spent many years working, volunteering, enjoying life, and bringing joy to others throughout it all.
After several years with the Bloomfield Post Office, Gloria worked as an office manager in the rectories of Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield and Holy Name of Jesus Church in East Orange. It was her love of reading that drew her attention towards working with books; first at Bloomfield Public Library, then at Barnes and Noble in Woodland Park where she conducted countless story hours in the children’s department. Irvington Public Library was her next stop on her book tour. Gloria rounded out her career in books at the circulation desk in the library at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station.
Gloria had many interests, and she shared them through her volunteer work. While her children attended Sacred Heart School in Bloomfield, she was a class mother, library volunteer, and Girl Scout leader. There are fond memories of Gloria piling the scouts into her blue VW bus and taking them on field trips to earn their merit badges. She was also a longtime advisor to the youth at Sacred Heart CYO, long after her own children were grown. She loved being part of the volleyball and rocking chair marathons. Always up for fun, Gloria played softball with the Sacred Heart Jokers and loved being part of the various plays the Home and School Association would produce.
Eventually, Gloria became a member of Our Lady of the Holy Angels parish in Little Falls where she was a daily communicant until she could no longer drive. Her volunteer spirit led her to be a lector, eucharistic minister, leader of prayer, tricky tray and harvest festival volunteer, and a bingo caller. There wasn’t anything Gloria would not do if asked.
Gloria will be missed by all who knew her and there is no doubt she is dancing in heaven to her theme song “Gloria.”
In gratitude for the excellent care Gloria received in these last two months, contributions may be made in her memory to Broadway House for Continuing Care, 298 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104.