Gloria Jean Stanfa

1938 - 2025

Gloria Jean (Stoll) Stanfa

November 9, 1938 - July 4, 2025

If you have ever met someone who immediately made you smile, who wanted to learn all about you, and whom you remembered for a lifetime, you may have met Gloria Jean Stanfa.

Glo passed away on July 4, 2025, at the age of 86. She was ready to move on to her next adventure, but to say she will be missed is an understatement.

She was born November 9, 1938, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Bruno and Alma (Neiman) Stoll. If you questioned why she enjoyed being the center of attention, she would smile and remind you she was an only child.

She attended Walbridge Elementary and graduated from Libbey High School in 1955. On March 1, 1958, she married Dennis Stanfa, and together they raised three daughters. Although she lived another 35 years after his death in 1990, no one was able to take Denny's place. Their reunion will be a joyous one.

Glo enjoyed a long career as a secretary at The University of Toledo, beginning in 1967 in the Geology Department, then working in Campus Security, and finally retiring from the Physical Plant in 1990. After her retirement from UT, she worked part-time as a bookseller at the former Little Professor Book Store in Holland, Ohio.

Her greatest passion was people. Her friends meant the world to her, especially her lifelong "travel group" friends. With her friends and family, she explored the United States, Europe, and several tropical locations. One of her greatest joys was taking each of her beloved grandchildren on a high school graduation trip to the destination of their choice.

Glo was creative and curious, funny and fun-loving, spiritual and spirited, entertaining and inspiring. A force of nature, she served not just to her daughters and granddaughter but also to her grandsons as the example of a positive, open-minded yet strong woman. She had a penchant for making a short story long, for making others laugh, for being able to laugh at herself, and for making any stranger her friend. She will always remain at the heart of countless favorite memories and stories.

She is survived by her daughters, Lori Stanfa (Mike Schroeder) and Sherry Stanfa-Stanley; grandchildren, George (Jorden) Stanley, Kyle Stanley, Cori Hedrick, and Cole Schroeder; and son-in-law, Tom Schonecker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Denny; and daughter, Denise (DC).

Visitation will be Monday, July 21, from 4:00-7:00 p.m., at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Road, in Toledo. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church, 4201 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Choroideremia Research Foundation, the Dennis and Gloria Stanfa Scholarship at The University of Toledo Foundation, or the DC Stanfa Memorial Writers' Award at the University of Dayton.

While Glo's passing leaves a great void, we celebrate a life so very well-lived.

Please view and sign Glo's online guest registry at CoyleFuneralHome.com

www.coylefuneralhome.com