Plan for the Future
Gloria Ron-Fornes
Gloria Ron-Fornes (nee Yañez), 87, gently passed into heaven on Thursday, December 25, 2014. A resident of Summit, NJ since 1990 she also lived in Union City and Weehawken between 1964 and 1990.
Gloria was born on June 15, 1927 in Habana, Cuba, to Ramon Yañez Dopico and Gloria Arbesu Vallina and was one of three children. She lived in Cuba until immigrating to the United States with her husband, Arturo F. Ron-Fornes, and daughter Gloria M Ron-Fornes in 1964. Her journey from Cuba took her to Mexico City, Miami and finally settling in Union City, New Jersey in June of that year. In Cuba, she left behind her brothers, Alberto Yañez and Orlando Yañez and their families including her beloved niece Mirta Yañez and nephew Albertico Yañez. She also left her parents who had died a few years before her departure.
She worked most of her life in the banking industry both in Cuba and in the USA. Some of the institutions she worked for were Citibank, Sterling National Bank and finally retiring from JPMorgan Chase on July 1, 1991. Because the transition from Cuba to the USA had its challenges, she worked in factories and did baby sitting in the first few years in NJ. Once her daughter was in high school, she returned to the banking industry which she loved.
After retirement, she volunteered at Overlook Hospital and worked part time at Peppercorn in Summit as well as baby sitting whenever needed. She enjoyed being around people especially children.
After the death of her beloved husband, Arturo, in June 1990, she moved in with her daughter, Gloria M, of Summit. She became a resident of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2006 after several falls and other health issues. While at Runnells she enjoyed an active lifestyle and volunteered as an interpreter for other Spanish speaking residents as well as a greeter for visitors. She won recognition for her service several times and was known and loved by residents, staff and guests. She was known for her friendliness, her good sense of humor, her coquetry, her feistiness and her determination. She enjoyed going to the coffee shop and visiting with her friends and staff.
Gloria enjoyed music all her life and finally had the opportunity to sing with a church choir in the late 80s and early 90s. A practicing Roman Catholic, she joined a Presbyterian church in West New York after her husband’s death. There she was a member of the choir and was named an elder of the church. She returned to her Catholic roots while at Runnells and was a fan of Papa Francisco.
Gloria’s love was her family. Her grandsons became her favorite topic of conversation and pride. She would tell everyone she met how talented, smart and good boys her grandsons were. She rejoiced with every stage of their development and spoke proudly of their musical and academic successes. But her biggest joy was talking about how they were developing into handsome young men with great hearts. She adored her son-in-law, Hugo Gomes, and always commented that he was a good husband, father and son-in-law. Her daughter was her friend and confident and as the years passed became her caretaker. Their bond was very close all their lives. They talked, laughed, fought, and always loved. She has left a very large void.
Gloria was a determined, strong willed woman; an optimist and a fun loving person who always looked for the humor in all her challenges all the way to the very end. She brought smiles to all who came in contact with her and was never shy about speaking the truth – in Spanish or broken English, whatever it took. She advocated strongly for herself, her loves ones and those less fortunate.
She is survived by her daughter, Gloria M Ron-Fornes, her son-in-law Hugo Gomes, her grandsons Brandon H Gomes and Adrian H Gomes all of Summit and her niece Mirta Yañez of Cuba.
The funeral mass will be held on Tuesday December 30, 2014 at 10:45 a.m. at St Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ. The family will receive friends for visitation on Monday December 29, 2014 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at Bradley, Brough, & Dangler Funeral Home, 309 Springfield Avenue, Summit, NJ (908) 273-2323. A committal service will follow in the chapel at the Garden State Crematory, 4101 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047. In Gloria’s name, donations can be made to American Red Cross, UNICEF, or Overlook Hospital.