Gloria Edwards

Gloria Edwards, 95, passed away peacefully in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded by her family.
Born in Chicago during the Great Depression to Abe and Lotti Gold, Gloria was the youngest of five. After Lotti died tragically when she was four, her aunt and uncle, Hannah and Max Gold, took her in. She adored them.
Living above Hannah and Max's hardware store in a working-class neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Gloria learned resilience, grit, and the importance of hard work. By age 11, she was taking care of customers in the store. She went on to graduate from the University of Chicago, where she loved her coursework and was active in the social scene.
She met her husband Robert Edwards at a tea dance in nearby Hyde Park. Together they built a life grounded in love, humor, and deep mutual respect. They raised three children and were later blessed with seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
They opened their Milwaukee copy shop with no business plan and $3,000 borrowed from Robert's insurance policy. By the time they sold Kopy-Print, they operated three stores with 19 employees. Robert ran the machinery and Gloria ran the business – a pioneering achievement at a time when few women ran businesses. They managed the company with integrity and took great care of their employees, at least seven of whom later started their own businesses.
In her later years, Gloria was an active patron of the arts, an avid card player, and a fashion-forward shopper with an eye for a good bargain. Her home was always a place of welcome - a gathering point for holidays and family events. She cherished her extended family, including her cousin Scott Lewis, whose steady companionship in Scottsdale brought her tremendous comfort and joy. Gloria will be remembered for being a calming, welcoming, and loving voice among her rambunctious, energetic family.
Gloria is survived by her three children William (Mindy) Edwards, Lynne (Blaine) Garon, and Lisa (Brian) Sorokin; grandchildren Jackie (Rich) Jones, Dan Garon, Kymberly (Andy) Legolvan, Brett Harris, Andrea (Clinton) Lewis, and Michael (Emma) Edwards; and great-grandchildren Brielle, Silas, Margot, and Celine. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, siblings Pearl, Rose, Anita, and Herb, and grandson Brian Garon.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 24 at 2:00pm at Green Acres Cemetery, 401 Hayden Rd, Scottsdale. A shiva service will follow on Monday at 4:00pm at Vi at Greyhawk, 7501 E Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Foundation for Fighting Blindness or another cause meaningful to you.
The family is grateful for her caregivers at the Vi.