Gloria Dolores Bombanti

Gloria Bombanti, age 91, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the warmth of her loved ones on Thursday, December 20th, 2018.

After a trying childhood, Gloria devoted her life to helping others as a dedicated social services worker and lived life to the fullest. While she loved to roller skate, sing, and dance, basketball was her passion. A star basketball player in school, Gloria never lost her love of the game. Whenever the UConn Woman’s Huskies played on T.V. her family knew not to touch the remote.

Gloria built a life filled with love. When she met her husband James Bombanti at a diner, it was love at first sight. James told her that day, “I’m going to marry you,” and he did just that on June 1st, 1946. They were happily married for 65 years.

James and Gloria raised their family in the house that James built in Rocky Hill. A selfless mother, she always made sure her family came first and that they felt the warmth of a loving home. They enjoyed spending summers and weekends at their beach house in Westbrook.

Her brightest moments were spent with her family, who she made her world. Her wit and humor always brightened our days and Gloria will be deeply missed by her family and loved ones.

Surviving are three daughters, Antoinette Tripp and her husband Stephen of New Jersey, Kathleen Russell and her husband Robert of Colchester, Linda Pisko and her husband Larry of Berlin; her grandchildren, Stacey Tripp, Steven Tripp, Jamie Utitus, Gloria Colwick, Joseph Butler, James Pisko, Stephanie Schapp, and Ashley Sit; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her brother, Harry Mumford.