Gloria Mae Feeley

The cornerstone of her large family, a devoted member of St. Martin of Tours church, and a fixture in her Western Hills community, Gloria Mae Feeley passed away peacefully on Wednesday February 13 after a brief hospitalization. She was born in Bellevue, Kentucky, raised in Price Hill and educated at Western Hills High School. Gloria married her first husband, Peter G. Ruehlman in 1949 and raised Barb, Peter, Linda and Cathy as a single mom after his untimely death. She married Joseph C. Feeley in 1969 and started their life of 44 years together. Gloria became step mother to Debbie, Patti and Mike. Joe and Gloria had one child together - Joseph P. Feeley (Gloria would not let the middle name "Celestine" be passed down!). Gloria's world was full of her children's successes, her grandchildren's triumphs and defeats on the football and baseball fields and basketball court, track and swim meets, dance recitals, applauding (and talking too loud) at plays.
Gloria was a typical suburban housewife in the 1950s. She subsequently evolved into a working mom. She held a number of positions: she worked as a secretary at RK Displays and the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. She served as a clerk for the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Compensation and at the Evening College for the University of Cincinnati. She was proud to be a Bearcat.

Gloria had many hobbies and activities throughout her life: playing cards, board games, electronic football (sneaking it at night when Joey was in bed), ceramics, cross-stitching, reading, sewing, cooking and baking with grandkids (who doesn't remember buckeyes and spritz cookies at Christmas). She liked music (signing along even if she didn't know all the lyrics). Joe and Gloria loved going to dances (she always promised to "dance at your wedding"). She was an avid fan of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy - she also loved her "stories". She definitely had a sweet tooth - wintergreen mints, licorice, ice cream and cookies of many varieties were favorites. She ALWAYS had a Diet Coke or Iced Tea at hand, even in the car. Everyone knew Grandma's Iced Tea was the best. Mostly, she loved visiting and getting visits from her babies - grandkids and great grandkids made her eyes light up as soon as she saw them. There was always a treat or two in her purse to keep them close!

Gloria was a proud graduate of Western Hills High School. Many times, she mentioned she went to high school with Andy Williams, Don Zimmer and Rosemary Clooney. After high school, a core group of girls formed a "club" to play cards (but mostly to gab). They stayed together for 65 years, the highlight of which was White Elephant gift exchange every Christmas. They shared weddings, births, deaths, heartaches, joys - a whole lifetime of experiences together.
Gloria was raised as a Protestant and converted to Catholicism as an adult. She attended St. Martin of Tours for over 45 years; all five of her children were educated at St. Martin of Tours and various Catholic High Schools. Gloria was an active church member and distributed communion for many years.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 PM on Sunday, February 17 at Dalbert, Woodruff & Isenogle Funeral Home, 2880 Boudinot Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45238. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, February 18 at St. Martin of Tours.

Memorials may be made in Gloria's name to St. Martin of Tours Church at 3720 St. Martin's Place, Cincinnati Ohio 45211.