Obituary

Longtime East Rockaway resident Gloria Christiano dies at 99

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Gloria Carmela Christiano died on Sept. 11 at her home in East Rockaway. She was 99.

Christiano was born in Brooklyn in December 1921, and she quickly went on to finish her primary education before entering college at 14. She married Vincent Christiano in 1960 and spent 42 years with him before he predeceased her in 2002.

Christiano was heavily involved in the community, including becoming president of the PTA, and a Girl Scout leader, and she remained involved in the scouts until she was in her late 80s. Additionally, she worked to solicit donations from local communities and taught religious instruction at St. Raymond’s Parochial School, and later became president of the Parish Council. She also volunteered teaching English to newly arrived immigrants on weekends. Christiano’s passions included volunteering at the Grist Mill Museum, which she helped get listed to the National Register of Historical Places in 1998.

She is survived by her children, Paul (Carol), Diane and Denise Mihalich (Joseph); and her grandchildren, Dylan, Marissa, Kristen, Joseph and Blake. Chsristiano’s wake was held on Sept. 14 at Donza Funeral Home, and her funeral Mass was Sept. 15 at St. Raymond’s Roman Catholic Church. She was buried at Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River.