Gloria (Rathay) Smith-Scricco (90), daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Lavallee) Rathay, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 4, 2012, with her loving family at her side. Gloria grew up in Worcester in one of the 3 three-deckers that her grandfather built on Fremont Street, and was a graduate of South High (1939).
Gloria is a part of Worcester history and was one of the last surviving models painted by the artist Leon Kroll in his famous World War I mural, "The Fruits of Peace," in the Worcester Memorial Auditorium. The mural was painted in 1939 and still hangs in the Auditorium. Gloria was a tireless advocate for the preservation of mural, a great hidden treasure of our city.
Gloria wore many hats in her working life. She worked as a sales clerk in the dress department at John C. McGinnis in downtown Worcester. She owned 2 three-deckers near WPI, and owned and ran a package store in Rutland. In 1978 she moved to the Wexford Village apartment complex in Worcester, and was hired as Social Director for the clubhouse. She planned trips, parties, dances, fashion shows, and even appeared on the annual Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy telethon. She also volunteered as a greeter at the Worcester Senior Center, and enjoyed participating in their activities and trips.
While living at Wexford Village, she met her second husband, Robert (Bob) Scricco, whom she married on Valentine's Day, 1988, in a romantic ceremony, and who predeceased her on June 1, 2011.
Gloria was also predeceased by her first husband David D. Smith of Worcester, in June of 1963. She is survived by her four children: Pamela Kazarian of Worcester; David D. Smith Jr. and his wife, Susan of San Jose, CA; Michael P. Smith and his wife Mary Jane, of Hamden, CT; and Melissa Jacobson and her husband Andrew of Auburn, MA; and two stepchildren: John Scricco and Karen Guiliano. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Sharyn and Jerry Kazarian; Matthew and William Jacobson; Heather, Gretchen, Brandon, and Murphy Smith; Gloriana Miles; and Heidi Anderson; 4 great-grandchildren: Christopher, Gabriel, Scarlet, and Presley; and several nieces and nephews. Gloria was also predeceased by her four siblings: Florence Dieter, Evelyn Smith, Yvette Rathay and Joseph Rathay, Jr.
Gloria enjoyed travel, and she visited New York, California, Italy, Germany, Austria, London, Paris, St. Martin, Aruba and many more. She and Bob lived for 23 years at Pointe Rok Estates in Worcester. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her children and grandchildren.
The family would like to thank all the staff at the Healthcare Center at the Willows of Worcester, MA, for their tireless care and devotion to Gloria.
The funeral will be on Wednesday, March 7th from the Alfred Roy & Sons Funeral Home 12 Hammond St. with a Mass at 11:30 AM in Christ the King Church 1052 Pleasant Street. Burial will follow in Saint John’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held from 9:30 to 11 AM in the funeral home before the funeral.
Donations can be made in Gloria’s name to the Macular Degeneration Foundation at http://www.eyesight.org/In_Memory/in_memory.html; or Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 5311313, Henderson, NV, 89053.
To share a memory of Gloria and for directions, please visit www.Royfuneral.com