Memorial Trees
A
Anonymous
March 31, 2023
A
Anonymous
March 21, 2023
L
Love, Bill Richards
March 18, 2023
Y
Your Legacy family
March 16, 2023
Memorial trees planted for:
Gloria Julia Richards
<p>- A tear-stained eagle is flying overhead, mourning the passing of another member of The Greatest Generation. Gloria Richards passed away with family at her bedside on March 11, 2023, age 98.</p><p>Gloria was equally proud of her Italian heritage and of her military service during World War II. She served in the U. S. Navy twice, enlisting during the war the first time, and being called up after the war the second time.</p><p>She was born on August 17, 1924 in Elmira, NY to Arthur and Ersilia “Elsie” (Malandra) Sbedico. Although her legal first name was Julia, she always used her middle name Gloria. Her father had owned Liberty Dry Cleaners, with offices in Elmira, Corning, Ithaca, and other locations.</p><p>Gloria was an intelligent and active woman throughout her life. She rode horses, played music, learned languages, and liked to sing and to swim. She skipped two grades in public school and entered Syracuse University as a journalism major in the 1940’s.</p><p>After World War II started, as soon as she was old enough, she dropped out of college and joined the Navy W.A.V.E.S. (it stood for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service", as she always reminded people). She worked first in the Navy Catalog Office in New York City and then as secretary to a Marine chaplain in Washington, D.C. Even in her 90’s she would still sing “Waves of the Navy” for you.</p><p>After the war Gloria married Edward Lionel Mordue of Elmira, NY. Eddie had been a turret gunner in a bomber during the war and then owned an Atlantic gas station at the corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and Miller St. in Elmira. They had three sons: Larry, Thomas and Mark. Eddie died of a heart attack at age 43 after 8 years of marriage. She had been a secretary at the Elmira Board of Education, but decided to finish her college degree, even while rising 3 young boys alone. She received her bachelor degree from Elmira College in 1964 and a master degree in communications from Syracuse University in 1966. She then worked for Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY for 25 years, most of that time as Assistant Dean of the School of Communications.</p><p>She was happiest during her 35-year marriage to Elmira, NY insurance adjuster William "Bill" Richards. She and Bill were opposites in temperament, but shared many interests, including reading, Broadway musicals, and, most of all, travelling. Gloria loved driving and never minded the 100-mile round-trip commute to work every day from Pine City to Ithaca. She also loved living on the farm outside Pine City, where Bill raised Hereford cattle as a hobby and Gloria rode the hills on her horse. She and Bill traveled extensively, mainly to Europe, both before and after retirement. They especially enjoyed Italy and visited there 13 times.</p><p>Gloria was an accomplished horsewoman, had performed water ballet, spoke Italian and Spanish conversationally (and French to some extent), and studied piano and violin as a child (and took up piano again after retirement). Although she was not a "women's libber" during the women's lib era, she believed in feminine equality and capability in the workplace. She was definitely a career woman, who enjoyed her years working for Ithaca College. She loved that job and felt she served the College well. She was not religious in any way, but believed in family and country, and had faith in the immense capability of personal determination.</p><p>Gloria retired from Ithaca College around 1990. Bill died in 2004 and she remained on the farm in Pine City until 2017, when she moved to Muncie, IN to live with her son Mark and his wife Mary. There she continued to be active, attending numerous concerts, performances and lectures. She did crossword puzzles (always in ink) throughout her life, and was never without a crossword puzzle book. In her 90’s she started doing word search puzzles instead of crosswords. She had also always loved to read, having a great interest in history, archeology and, especially, in murder mysteries. She owned several copies of all of Agatha Christie’s novels.</p><p>Gloria is survived by her son Mark Mordue (Mary) of Muncie, IN; grandsons David Mordue (Dora) of Pasco, WA and Alan Mordue of St. Augustine, FL; granddaughter Kelly Mordue-Eldohiri (Salah) of Davison, MI; step-daughter Salle Richards of Beaver Dams, NY; step-son William Richards, Jr. of Berwyn, PA; step-grand-sons Morgan Crooks (Lillie) of Woburn, MA, and Justin Crooks (Alison) of Darwin, Australia; 15 great grandchildren and step-great-grand-children, and several generations of nieces, nephews, and cousins.</p><p>She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Edward Mordue; her second husband William Richards; sons Larry Mordue and Thomas Mordue; brothers Joseph Sbedico, Robert Sbedico, and Julius Sbedico; sister Olga DeVore; and a brother (also named Julius Sbedico) who died at age 10 a few months before she was born.</p><p>As we mourn her loss, we also celebrate a long life well lived: a life of independence, strength, determination, inquiry, service, devotion, and love. Well done, Gloria. Thank you.</p><p>The family would like to thank early caregivers Raquel Townsend and Alpha Center, and later caregivers Dr. Saber Bahrami, Morrison Woods Memory Care, and Heart-to-Heart Hospice for their care and kindness to Gloria. There will be no memorial service. Interment at the cemetery in Webb Mills, NY, alongside Bill Richards, will be at a later date. In memory of Gloria, donations may be made to Southport NY Historical Society, P.O. Box 146, Pine City, NY 14871.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>August 17, 1924 - March 11, 202308/17/192403/11/2023
Share Obituary: