Obituary for Gloria Patricia Sorley (Fraser)
SORLEY, Gloria Patricia
December 1, 1938 - December 23, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our mother, nana, and great nana on Dec 23rd, 2022. She was taken suddenly, in her home, while preparing for another family Christmas time. She was the wife of the late Robert T Sorley (2020) for over 50 years and will be joining him for Christmas now. A mother to Robert (Bob), and Arlene Sorley, Heather, and Randy Winger. Grandmother to Rachel and Ryan Sorley, Stephanie and Brandon Schilstra, Jennifer, and Alex Brown. She was also a great grand mother to Elijah and Benjamin. Gloria was a sister to Suellen and Mike Bradfield, Helen and late Bruce Fraser, late Ken and Emily Fraser. Nieces and Nephews will remember her fondly. She also leaves many lifelong friends including her Bridge friends.
Gloria lived life to the fullest, she was not a spectator. She was the rock that gave my father the opportunity to do all that he did. As a child she was adventurous and would not let anything stand in the way of what she interested in. She would travel from Dorchester Road to the Cyanamid Pool to swim and dive, where she would win some of her first athletic awards. She was a golfer, skier, curler, and baseball player.
She went to McMaster University’s Teachers College and began her teaching at Fallsview Elementary School. She taught for a couple of years until Bob and her began a family. She stayed home while my sister and I grew up. After we returned from living in Ohio, she returned to teaching as a supply teacher in the Niagara South board of education. When you are young and sitting in your class and you see the supply teacher is your mom, you know your day is going to be tough.
Our mom had a personality that was larger than life. She was gregarious while dad was the quiet one. She forced him out of his shell and he tried to rein her in. Mom was at dad’s side for all he did helping him so that he could do what he did. She drove the limo to the airport for dad’s Chinese visitors when the original driver became ill. She opened our door for friends and strangers with a warm and welcoming home.
Mom enjoyed many things, from gardening, sports, and travel. She and dad made numerous trips, usually around his business trips but they traveled to Europe, Mexico, and Australia. They made friends in all the places they travelled and this gave them more places to visit.
Mom was a curler, a very good curler too. In 2003, their very first year of curling together, the team of Gloria Sorley, Jackie Lococo, Lynne Coull and Marg Newton won the Canadian Women’s Master’s Curling Championship. It was a real team effort, with Gloria and Jackie bringing 12 years experience at the provincial level to the team and Lynne and Marg contributing energy and grit. This true club team from the Niagara Falls Curling Club all share the same philosophy of hard work and fair play. They won again in 2004 and were added to the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame.
Gloria lived her life to the unexpected end. She was planning another summer at the cottage with her grand son Ryan, Marcia, Gail and other friends. She was planning a trip to Calgary with her grandson to visit her grand daughter and to Halifax to visit her sister. She was planning Christmas and a night out with the family to see the lights and was planning on more golf this summer. She was still living at home, driving and playing Bridge with her friends. She experienced her life, with adventures, love and friendship. She will be missed by all that knew her.
The family will receive friends at MORSE & SON FUNERAL HOME, 5917 Main Street, Niagara Falls, on Wednesday December 28 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. A service to celebrate the life of Gloria will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11 a.m. Cremation will follow. Following the service friends and family will be invited to a celebration of life for Robert as he passed away during the COVID restrictions and did not have the farewell he deserved. As an expression of sympathy, those who wish, may make a memorial donation to Special Olympics Ontario or the MS. Society. Memories, photos, and condolences may be shared at www.morseandson.com
December 1, 1938 - December 23, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our mother, nana, and great nana on Dec 23rd, 2022. She was taken suddenly, in her home, while preparing for another family Christmas time. She was the wife of the late Robert T Sorley (2020) for over 50 years and will be joining him for Christmas now. A mother to Robert (Bob), and Arlene Sorley, Heather, and Randy Winger. Grandmother to Rachel and Ryan Sorley, Stephanie and Brandon Schilstra, Jennifer, and Alex Brown. She was also a great grand mother to Elijah and Benjamin. Gloria was a sister to Suellen and Mike Bradfield, Helen and late Bruce Fraser, late Ken and Emily Fraser. Nieces and Nephews will remember her fondly. She also leaves many lifelong friends including her Bridge friends.
Gloria lived life to the fullest, she was not a spectator. She was the rock that gave my father the opportunity to do all that he did. As a child she was adventurous and would not let anything stand in the way of what she interested in. She would travel from Dorchester Road to the Cyanamid Pool to swim and dive, where she would win some of her first athletic awards. She was a golfer, skier, curler, and baseball player.
She went to McMaster University’s Teachers College and began her teaching at Fallsview Elementary School. She taught for a couple of years until Bob and her began a family. She stayed home while my sister and I grew up. After we returned from living in Ohio, she returned to teaching as a supply teacher in the Niagara South board of education. When you are young and sitting in your class and you see the supply teacher is your mom, you know your day is going to be tough.
Our mom had a personality that was larger than life. She was gregarious while dad was the quiet one. She forced him out of his shell and he tried to rein her in. Mom was at dad’s side for all he did helping him so that he could do what he did. She drove the limo to the airport for dad’s Chinese visitors when the original driver became ill. She opened our door for friends and strangers with a warm and welcoming home.
Mom enjoyed many things, from gardening, sports, and travel. She and dad made numerous trips, usually around his business trips but they traveled to Europe, Mexico, and Australia. They made friends in all the places they travelled and this gave them more places to visit.
Mom was a curler, a very good curler too. In 2003, their very first year of curling together, the team of Gloria Sorley, Jackie Lococo, Lynne Coull and Marg Newton won the Canadian Women’s Master’s Curling Championship. It was a real team effort, with Gloria and Jackie bringing 12 years experience at the provincial level to the team and Lynne and Marg contributing energy and grit. This true club team from the Niagara Falls Curling Club all share the same philosophy of hard work and fair play. They won again in 2004 and were added to the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame.
Gloria lived her life to the unexpected end. She was planning another summer at the cottage with her grand son Ryan, Marcia, Gail and other friends. She was planning a trip to Calgary with her grandson to visit her grand daughter and to Halifax to visit her sister. She was planning Christmas and a night out with the family to see the lights and was planning on more golf this summer. She was still living at home, driving and playing Bridge with her friends. She experienced her life, with adventures, love and friendship. She will be missed by all that knew her.
The family will receive friends at MORSE & SON FUNERAL HOME, 5917 Main Street, Niagara Falls, on Wednesday December 28 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. A service to celebrate the life of Gloria will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 11 a.m. Cremation will follow. Following the service friends and family will be invited to a celebration of life for Robert as he passed away during the COVID restrictions and did not have the farewell he deserved. As an expression of sympathy, those who wish, may make a memorial donation to Special Olympics Ontario or the MS. Society. Memories, photos, and condolences may be shared at www.morseandson.com