Gloria Jean Gates

Gloria Jean Gates
Frankfort
Gloria Jean (Mimi) Gates passed away peacefully, with her loving family at her side, on April 10, 2010, after a valiant 20 year battle with breast cancer. She was a loving person who touched the lives of her family and friends with her goodness, generosity and love. She resided in Frankfort, NY, Pleasant Lake, Strafford, NY, and Coconut Creek, FL. Gloria was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on March 14, 1945, to Bobbie Lee Graham and the late Victor Armand Gramigna. She grew up in Scranton, PA, and graduated as Salutatorian from West Scranton High School and from Lackawanna Business College. Her career was with AT&T, NYNEX, Bell Atlantic and Verizon Communications from where she retired in Utica, NY. After retirement, she worked part-time for the Social Security Disability Administration in Utica, NY. Gloria valiantly battled breast cancer and sought to raise womens awareness of treatment options; pioneering her own surgeries and treatments. She made a video for Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and did Public Service Announcements. She was very active in the local After Breast Cancer (ABC) group. Because of all of her dedicated work, Gloria was recognized by NY Governor Pataki with the Profiles of Courage Outstanding Woman award. Gloria was truly a special and amazing woman. She was a devout Catholic who lived her Faith. She was a member of St. Agnes Church, Utica, for 35 years and, more recently, Historic Old St. Johns Church, Utica. She always placed the needs of others before her self; she demonstrated her love in countless ways. Gloria loved her family, homes, friends and pets. She loved sports, especially attending her childrens and grandchildrens competitions, and rooting for the Buffalo Bills. Gloria is survived by her husband of 41 years, and caregiver, Bill, Frankfort, NY; her son, Billy and his wife, Kathryn Johnson Gates, Athens, NY; her daughter Renee and her fianc, Jamie Ellsworth, Newport, NY; and her grandchildren, Emily Tracey Gates and Brandon Tyler Gates. Additional survivors include her mother, Scranton, PA; and five brothers, Marty and Ronnie Gramigna, Scranton, PA; Victor, NYC; Gary and nephews, Andrew and Matthew, Framingham, MA; Frankie Allen, Stowe, VT; and aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, the Camp Girls, and friends. She was a blessing to all who knew her, and will be greatly missed. Funeral services will be Thursday, 10:00 a.m., at Historic Old St. Johns Church, Utica, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Entombment will be in Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum at Holy Trinity Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the After Breast Cancer Support Group, c/o Karen Christensen, 43 Parkside Court, Utica, NY 13501. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Gloria Jean Gates