Gloria Cagan

Gloria Irenia Cagan, age 90, of Spring Hill, Florida passed away on January 27, 2022 at 5:00 in the morning. She came into the world on November 13th, 1931, as the firstborn of Captain James Laurence and Octavia Laurence. Gloria was born and raised in the small seaside town of Grand Case on the French side of the island of St. Martin where she attended French school with her brother Franklin and sisters Douce and Joyce. Franklin, Gloria’s younger brother, became friends with a nice young man from St. Lucia named Leonardo, otherwise known as Leonard. One day, Franklin received a letter from Leonardo as he was going to sea and asked Gloria to respond for him. Honoring her brother’s request, she wrote her very first letter to Leonardo and it was the beginning of a romance that grew with each correspondence. Gloria and Leonardo had their first dance to “How Much Is That Doggy In The Window” and thereafter became each other’s “pup”, which they affectionately and mutually called each other for the rest of their lives. Gloria immigrated to the United States in 1958 and her pup followed months later. She married Leonardo Severo Cagan on June 6, 1959 in New York City, where they lived for over 30 years and gave birth to their son, Leonard Louis Cagan, and daughter, Michelle Bernadette Cagan. They were active members of Community Gospel Church in Astoria, Queens, where she served faithfully for many years as a Sunday School teacher and Women’s Ministry director. He worked at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, while she was a homemaker in addition to a seamstress, artist, cake decorator and friend to many. After their retirement, they moved to Spring Hill, Florida to live near their children and grandchildren. She continued to serve the Lord as the president of the Women’s Aglow Chapter in Spring Hill, FL and at Faith Christian Worship Center, where she and Leonardo were devoted church members. She spent her days painting, gardening, leading a weekly prayer meeting at her home, cooking and baking for others, praying, ministering at Evergreen Nursing Home and being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She loved to create beautiful things, spend time with those she loved, laugh and travel and was always excited to embark on a new adventure. She was full of life and rich with joy, love and faith - things that cannot be bought. Her husband, Leonardo, went to be with the Lord on December 22, 2018. They were married for almost 60 years. She is survived by her son, Lenny Cagan and his wife, Peggy, her daughter, Michelle Chauncey and her husband, Robert, her grandchildren, Jonathan Cagan and his wife, Amanda, Cara Owens and her husband, Dustin, David Chauncey and his wife, Lauren, Erin Blocher and her husband, Craig, Matthew Chauncey, Elisabeth Chauncey, Stephen Cagan and wife, Emily, and seven great grandchildren, Grayson, Andrew, Hudson, Ben, Josie, Gracie and Ella. Friends and family will be received on Thursday, February 3 at 10:30AM for the viewing, and at 11:30AM for the Celebration of Life service at the Brewer & Sons Seven Hills Chapel. The officiant will be Robert J. Chauncey. She will be laid to rest at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations to Sunshine Christian Homes Memory Care can be provided via a memorial fund at https://gofund.me/73716126.