Gloria A. (Roux) Deputat, age 99, a lifelong Tewksbury resident, passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2021 after a long period of declining health following Covid-19 at Bear Mountain / Wingate Belvidere Health Care Center. She was the widow of the late Walter J. Deputat with whom she shared 73 years of marriage before he passed away in 2015. Walter has now been reunited with “the bride” as she was affectionately known to him.
She was born in Tewksbury on January 28, 1922 and was a daughter of the late Phaida Joseph Roux and the late Marie (LeMay) Roux. Her father was the town blacksmith and Gloria referred to herself as a “blacksmiths daughter” throughout her life. She was raised in Tewksbury, graduating from Tewksbury High School. Upon graduating, she worked at the Bon Marche in Lowell before marrying Walter at the age of 21 in Tucson, Arizona during World War II as Walter trained for his eventual military duty. She later worked at Tewksbury State Hospital for a number of years.
Gloria was instrumental in the founding of Tewksbury Funeral Home in 1957. The support she showed her husband Walter during the early years made all the difference in establishing the new business. Additionally, she was a member of the Tewksbury American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, the Tewksbury Veterans Association, the St. Williams Church Sodality and was the Tewksbury Town Meeting/Voters Precinct 3 Captain. Although Gloria accomplished much in her long life, raising her family and being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother were her greatest accomplishments.
Following a long and dedicated life in funeral service, she and Walter eventually retired to Vero Beach, and later Sebastian FL, where they resided for twenty-five happy years, returning to Tewksbury in 2009. Over the years, she was a communicant of St. William’s Church in Tewksbury, Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach, and St. Sebastian’s in Sebastian, FL.
Gloria leaves three children, John W. Deputat and his wife, Roberta (Pace/Nocco), Gail Ann Graham and her husband, James, and Joel W. Deputat and his wife, Deborah (DiCiaccio); her grandchildren, Joseph, Michael, and Christopher Deputat, Steven Nocco, Michelle Guthrie, James Graham, Dennis Graham, and Julianne Morse.
She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Emma, Cassidy, and Molly Deputat, Kyle and Kristine Nocco, Graham, Garrett, Gabriella, Jonathon, and Skyla Guthrie, Isabel, Finn, Keegan, and Sawyer Graham, and Quinton and Lochlan Morse; her siblings, Elaine Stephens, and Eugene Roux; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was predeceased by her granddaughter, the late Lisa Nocco who passed away in 2018; and her siblings, the late Louis Roux, the late Victor Roux, and the late Pauline Roux.
Gloria’s family would like to give a special thanks to her caregivers at Bear Mountain-Wingate-Belvidere Healthcare and Hospice for their attention and devotion throughout her years living there.
On Friday, October 8, 2021 all are welcome to attend her visiting hours from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, 978-851-2061.
Her funeral will begin on Saturday, October 9, at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by her funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Tewksbury. Burial will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery.
Please consider a memorial donation in Gloria’s name to: Beacon Hospice Care, Suite 242, Lawrence, MA 01843 or the charity of your choice.