Gloria Irene (Daniels) (Calhoun) Taylor

2/25/37 - 12/29/21

Derby, Vermont:  This is a tribute to Gloria, a woman of short stature but with a big, loving personality. She truly valued and felt so deeply the importance of family and human connections.

Gloria passed away at the Belaire Nursing Home, from complications of COPD and COVID19.  She was born in East Haven, Vermont, the third of four children, to Clarence and Rena Daniels.  The family moved to Island Pond where Gloria walked to school everyday, and where she was a very conscientious student. She took pride in being named valedictorian of the class of 1955 at the Brighton High School in Island Pond, and where she earned a full scholarship to Lyndon Teachers College.

Gloria listened to her heart and abandoned her college career, to marry her first love, Robert Calhoun, on December 25, 1955.  Gloria and Robert started their married life in NJ where he worked at the Oakeside Dairy Farm in Rockaway.  Gloria spent a great deal of time and effort persuading her husband to make good on his promise to move the family to Vermont after the birth of their three daughters.  They did move into an old farmhouse in East Charleston on Memorial Day weekend in 1971.  Regrettably, Robert and Gloria divorced in 1975, in part due to several health issues that Gloria experienced.

Happily, love came back into her life again when she met Joseph Taylor in the early 1980's, and he built a sweet little log cabin for the two of them on a back road in Morgan. They were both very happy there. Gloria especially enjoyed taking road trips with Joe and visiting folk near and far. She and Joe were married in 1993, but sadly, he died a few months later. Gloria was forlorn after his death, and sorely disappointed when a decade later she no longer had the ability to drive. Her animal companions did provide her with solace. And then she was fortunate, and so happy, to renew her friendship with David Calhoun, another soulmate, and they lived together for a few precious years at that cherished log cabin before Dave succumbed to cancer in 2008.

Gloria held a succession of waitressing jobs before and after moving to Vermont, and thoroughly enjoyed the many opportunities for banter and conversations with the public. Gloria was always happy to share stories and memories with those who had time and a listening ear, and was also eager to provide empathy and advice to anyone in need. Loneliness often assailed her and she welcomed and appreciated the comfort that being with others brought. In retirement she spent innumerable hours volunteering to support students at the Holland Elementary School; she absolutely loved that, and being there she felt like she was in her element.  In recent years, Gloria spent considerable time outdoors on her small patio with her modest (and sometimes riotous) flower garden. She enjoyed bird watching and rejoiced whenever her favored cardinals perched or sang nearby. COVID restrictions were a particular hardship as her health failed.  But what pleasure she got from using her treasured "Portal"!  She could connect with family and friends and converse, and the device provided hours of entertainment for her! "Alexa" was at her beck and call, and became her virtual friend.

She will be missed.  Gloria is survived by three daughters:  Ruthanne Little (John) of Montgomery Center, VT, Patricia Ovitt (Kean) of Holland, VT, and Betsy Calhoun (Christopher Royer) of Coventry, VT.  Eight grandchildren survive her:  Nicholas Ming, Tiffany Ovitt, Jessica Sicotte, Jenny Ming, Crystal O'Keefe, Jake Ovitt, Brian Tetreault, and Kerrianne Durivage, as well as 14 great-grandchildren.  Gloria leaves one sister, Marguerite Morgan of Island Pond.  Pre-deceasing her were her parents, her brothers Cecil and Walter, and a great-grandchild, Courtney.  A private remembrance ceremony will be held at the Curtis-Britch Funeral Home for family,  with a memorial service and burial taking place on Saturday, May 7th, at a time to be announced, at the East Haven Cemetery. The family takes this opportunity to express heartfelt appreciation for the hard work of people (far too many to name) who over the years helped Gloria navigate her sometimes complicated life journey, and also to the hard working staff at North Country Hospital and at Belaire for the compassion shown during Gloria's final days.  For those who wish, Gloria suggested that in lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory be made to the not-for-profit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.  Their website states that eighty-two cents of every dollar that is donated supports treatment, research and future needs of the hospital.  You may visit stjude.org/givehope or send a check or money order to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. On-line condolences at curtis-britch.com.  Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.