Gloria Nigro (née Preli) was born in Manhattan’s Little Italy on September 17, 1927 to Bonfilio and Dora Preli. She had four siblings: Marie, Nettie, Dolores, and Philip who died in infancy.  Gloria attended P.S. 13 and Washington Irving High School.  Upon graduation, she worked for the Department of Health.

On January 20, 1951, Gloria married Louis Nigro, the love of her life.  Their family was blessed with two daughters, Dolores and Donna, and Gloria became a stay-at-home mom.  When her daughters were older, Gloria returned to work in the insurance field until her retirement.  For her entire life, Gloria was a loyal parishioner and active volunteer for Transfiguration Church in lower Manhattan where she was the Bingo Commissioner for decades.  In November 2012, Gloria entered St. Patrick’s Nursing Home due to the onset of dementia.  During these last five years, Gloria was an active member of the St. Patrick’s community going to daily Mass, and enjoying bingo, horse racing, and po-ke-no.  She made many wonderful friends with both the residents and the staff, and claimed her spot in the TV room each night.

Grandma to some, Nana to others, Gloria was a very active part in her grandchildren's lives, never missing a graduation, wedding, or recital. She was a source of comfort, warmth, and sugar donuts for her grandchildren.  She loved taking them on the rides at Sesame Place and Hershey Park, and always had a smile to share with them.  Towards the end of her life, she found a special joy in her great-granddaughter, to whom she would call out, “EM-ily!”

Gloria passed away peacefully as the matriarch of her family early Sunday morning, December 3, 2017 at St. Patrick's, having spent the evening in the company of both her daughters.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Patrick's Nursing Home, 66 Van Cortlandt Park South, Bronx, NY 10463.

Reposing Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 2-5 & 7-9 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx NY. Mass of Christian Burial Thuresday 10 am at St. Patrick's Home Chapel, 66 Van Cortlandt Park South, Bronx NY. Interment Cemetery of the Resurrection in Staten Island, NY.