Gloria ( Pepe ) Colizzi died peacefully Friday in Maine. Born and educated in Lawrence, Massachusettes, Gloria graduated from Lawrence High School, where she participated in the marching band.
After graduation, she met and married George Colizzi and began her lifelong role as mother and matriarch for her family. She spent the majority of her life in Methuen and enjoyed the countless Italian dinners that she prepared and shared with her ever-growing family. Each Sunday, rain or shine, she would gather her children and her grandchildren together for sumptuous Italian feasts at her Methuen home. She never tired of this weekly ritual because it allowed her the opportunity to surround herself with her most prized treasure, her family.
Gloria spent many years working at Western Electric and was proud of her performance as an inspector. She had a keen eye for detail and her skills in this area were put to good use in her career. She juggled both her household and motherly duties along with the demands of a full time career.
Gloria loved her children and family more than anything in the world. Her greatest joy came from visiting with them and speaking to them on the phone each week. She was a wonderful mother, sister and daughter and in her quite strength and daily courage, she became an inspiration to all who knew and loved her. She will be missed by all.
Gloria was pre-deceased by her husband, George Colizzi, her mother and father James and Josephine Pepe, and her beloved sisters Rose Furnari and Eleanor Adams. She is survived by her son Frank Colizzi and his wife Christine of Seabrook, NH, her daughters Ann Perrotta of Methuen and Carolyn Leocata and her husband Kevin of Methuen, and sons David Colizzi and his wife Roanne of Oakland, Maine and Michael Colizzi and his wife Candace of Dover, NH., twin brothers James Pepe of Methuen and Fred Pepe and his wife Nancy of Florida. She leaves 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as a special sister in law, Martha Paulino of North Andover.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, April 21st at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home 233 Lawrence Street Methuen, MA from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 22nd at 11:00 AM at Saint Lucy’s Parish in Methuen. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lawrence, MA. To send online condolences or directions visit pollardfuneralhome.com