Gloria Stories

We Love Gloria!

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:42:18 -0400

Hi Everyone .. Great Party, Great Lady!

I first met Gloria shortly after getting together with my wife, Glory. Glory & I are musicians, and offered to drive to Winnipeg from Toronto with our musical gear, and play at Tom Last's 60th birthday party. This was the first time that I met the entire family, cousins, aunts, etc.. all 453 of them. Right away, Gloria made me feel a welcomed part of her family. If her family's not happy.. she's not happy.. and that goes for all her friends too. She has made so many along her journey.

I'd like to share some great memories with you..

Gloria loves her movies, and so do I. When she would visit us in Toronto, we would often pull out our old futon couch bed, with our comfy pillows and watch a marathon of favourites. Glory Dawn would inevitably fall asleep half way through the 1st flick, get up momentarily, and wander off to bed. The next morning she would come into the living room and find Gloria and I fast asleep together. After Glory would exclaim, "what are you two doing?", Gloria would look at me, give me a big smile and a devilish wink, and then laugh our way to breakfast. I'd assure Glory that this was not a penthouse moment, but just
good clean fun with my new found movie-mate.

You may not know this, but Gloria is extremely proficient with electronic equipment, and can master a VCR or DVD player in seconds. It seemed like a logical step for her to have a computer, so she could email all her clan, and surf the net. We decided to get her a Macintosh iMac computer, and shipped it off to her at Winnipeg Beach. We told her that she would be receiving her iMac shortly and she was very excited. As most of you may know, she has some trouble with her hearing, and does a fantastic job of getting most of the conversations around her. Well, she didn't quite get this one, and stated telling all her friends and family that she now had a "Wayback" machine. This was actually the name of an amazing time machine from the Mr. Peabody cartoon show. We still laugh about that one.

You are a universal soul...

A Buddha Moo, giving relief and joy to all who see your smile, hear your laughter, look into her eyes and are forever warmed by your heart!

You make 80 look damn good!

Love to my Moo, always,

Doug

P.S. I'm not afraid to be 80 anymore.

Still Boppin’!

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:17:32 -0400

This is Deb Jenkins

I have been friends with Rea for many years. Most recently at Rea and Shirley’s party I was lucky enough to spend time with Gloria.

Enjoy your party Gloria. I have to say you are a wonderful person and sister. You certainly know how to have fun dance and liven up a place. I can see where that beautiful personality originated. Mom Last is a special lady still boppin’ around having fun and part of a busy life.

Have Fun!

Deb Jenkins

A Smile & A Dance

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:03:20 -0400

Well, where to begin.....most of our times together have seemed to start out on the dance floor at one Blaze and Glory performance or another. When we first met MaMa Gloria (as we call her now) we were both both blown away by her never ending energy, her beautiful spirit and smile all of which become infectious the moment she walks into a room. Once she hits that dance floor there is no stopping her. She passes that energy to everyone she meets and you can't help but smile and laugh along with her when you are lucky enough to be in her company. Even during the quieter times when we have had the chance to actually sit with her an have a conversation, her kindness and positive outlook on life become an inspiration. Of course maybe some of her inspiration comes from that little fifi white fluffy doggie that has accompanied her to a party or two.
Happy 80th birthday MaMa Gloria. Keep those dancin' shoes on, and as always, we can't wait to see you when you come into town.
We love you!
Love,
Sherry & Sparky ( your official adoptees)

Best Wishes

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:27:43 -0400

Dear Auntie Moo,
We hope you have a wonderful 80th birthday celebration! How appropriate the theme " In the Moooood ". We all love you so much and wish we were there! Enjoy !!!!!!!                                                             With all our Love and Best Wishes,                                Robert, John and Denise Denise, from L.A.
                         P.S. Mooooo!!!!!!!

So I Thought They Could Dance..

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:20:11 -0400

How wonderful to be able to share (from a distance) in the tribute to your first 80 years – (the next 80 should be a piece of cake!!)

When I left Winnipeg in 1952 to "seek my fortune – Ha!!" in Vancouver, I had no idea that my return visits would be so far and few between. On those rare occasions, usually at the Beach, the things I could always count on were the mosquitoes, fish flies and above all Gloria's wonderful laugh, huge brown eyes and other attributes that Olie has already dealt with!!!.

The "Gloria stories" I can recall occurred during the mid to late 40's. Gloria and Jody (aka "Angel") would attract a huge crowd in the "Jive" corner of the Beach dance pavilion; their feet never seemed to touch the floor!! "So You Think You Can Dance" came along 60 years too late to showcase that talented twosome. The crowd got an even greater treat when "Zoot Suitors" Chuck and Mike joined them for a display of "Jumping Jive" that would make "Dancing with the Stars" look like a beginner's class!!

Another very vague but fond recollection (dream? fantasy? or did it really happen??) was when Gloria and Jody decided that neither I nor any of my other juvenile pals – Tom, Olie, Brian – knew how to kiss properly and devoted some time instructing us in the socially acceptable art of lip-locking!

Have a wonderful party, wish we could be there. We want you to know that you are one very special lady, in our minds and in our hearts.

With love from Glenn and Lois

Sister Shirl Sends Her Love

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:54:36 -0400

Just want to remind and Thank You ..... in October 1955 you convinced your brother Ron to take the engagement ring he had made for me out of Pops safe and give it to me then and not at Christmas as he had planned! Ron then had to buy me Christmas gifts and blamed you!!! I made out, thanks!!! Wish I were there at Your Party...so you'll have to celebrate for both of us. Love, hugs and prayers. Salute! Sister Shirl xoxoxo

Shirley Scinocca

..One Incredible Lady

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:44:49 -0400

It’s impossible to find the right words to describe this one incredible lady. She is as Jackie Gleason use to say “the greatest”. No one that we know can light up a room like Gloria and no matter whatever troubles her you’ll never know.

Want to have a party? Choose Gloria.

Want to have a good conversation over coffee or better still over wine. Choose Gloria.

Want to have a best friend. Choose Gloria.

We’re only sorry we can’t be there to celebrate Gloria’s birthday as we know it’ll be a gas, if it was it wouldn’t be Gloria. We thank God for letting us get to know and love Gloria, she truly is one of a kind.

Happy Birthday Gloria, and may you have many, many more -- the world needs you but most of all so do all of your relatives and friends.

Best wishes today and every day.

Norm and Pat

1st Born Story Hits The Press..

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:09:32 -0400

Hi Mom, happy 80th birthday to you, and I just know it’s going to be a wildly fun year for you. You have been such an inspiration to me and continue to be to this very moment. I could think of a million stories to tell but I chose three.

The first one took place when we were living on Lincoln Avenue and I was about 8 years old. I was having a bath and those stupid Mckonky brothers "Peeping Tommed" me through the bathroom window. I called out for you and told you what happened, and it did not matter that they were only 8 years old too; you were out the door in a flash. All I remember seeing were the bottom of your pink fluffy slippers as you chased them for blocks down the street right to their house where you pounded on their door and tattled on them to their very startled parents.

The second story was a few years later on Moncton when one morning Dad kissed you good bye on his way out the door to go to work only to return 2 minutes later. But you didn’t hear him because by then your hearing had become pretty bad. So he was locked out for 20 minutes pounding at the door until you opened it up yourself to go catch the bus for work. There was Dad madder than a hatter. You asked him what the hell was going on. He informed you amidst a lot of swear words that he got to the parking lot and discovered his car had been stolen. He then looked at you and kind of softened up when he saw you bust out in tears. He said Gloria you don’t have to be so upset. You looked up at him and said the hell with the car, all my bloody Christmas baking was in the trunk!

The next story brings us to present time. Last winter you went across the street to Marketplace to pick up a few groceries. Only this day was different. Instead of bananas you found a full size above ground pool 10 feet by 10 feet round and three feet deep clearing out for $49.99. You purchased it instead of your groceries and tugged it home in your shopping cart through the snow. You then wrapped it up and put it under the tree and opened it up at Christmas time in front of your family and acted all surprised like a crazy nut. Now here comes Summer time. Shirl and I set up your pool one sunny morning at the beach but then voiced our concerns about you having to be careful getting in and out. So what do you do? You stepped in with no problem. When it came time to get out you tucked and rolled out. Actually we thought it was genius but the first couple of times you did it brought all the neighbours running to save your life. Once you had informed everyone that this was your system all went well and you enjoyed your pool for the rest of the summer tucking and rolling out but staying safe.

I love you Mom and know that I got the best. I can’t imagine this world without you, your generous spirit and hilarity. I’m selfishly wishing you many many more birthdays and I also don’t have any body else to look after Fysal so thanks for that too.

Love, Rea - your #1 daughter...

Of Babysitters, Friends & Spaghetti

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:58:22 -0400

I don't have any pictures, or funny stories to send, but I do have many fond memories of Gloria. It seems that Gloria has been a part of my life since I was a baby. She, along with Jody Flye were my babysitters. I love Gloria's smile, her sense of humour, her "up for fun" approach to life.
She was an important part of our "adopted extended" family, and no event would be complete without her there. I loved to dance with her, and we would all gather around the piano and sing. Decorating the Christmas Tree was a blast! She even gave me the Scinocca Family Recipe for spaghetti sauce which is the best in the world! Altho' we don't see her as often now, I still feel she is a part of the family, as Jody keeps me updated. This is how I know that she got her Boob caught in the washing machine a couple of years ago!! Keep well Glory. Have a dance for me at your party, maybe a glass of wine also. Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Lady and let's keep on dancin' for many more years to come.

Love and Hugs

Lainie (Chandler) King

Happy Birthday!

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:52:04 -0400

Godmother ~ Happy Happy 80th Birthday!

I hope you have a wonderful celebration with the Family there in Toronto. Be careful blowing out ALL of those candles, I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself !!! All of us Irvins here in San Diego love and miss you, and wish you many many more happy celebrations. Enjoy yourself and don't do anything I wouldn't do ; )

Hope to see you soon. Love and prayers, Michael, Godchild, Derik and Zack xoxoxoxox

P.S. Gramma Coco, Grampa, Godfather, Uncle Bert, Daddy, Aunty Rea and Uncle Don are ALL wishing you a Happy 80th from Heaven!!!

Love you!

Sherri Irvin