Gloria Bertrand Abele

Friday, Oct. 23, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Gloria Bertrand Abele died Oct. 10, 2015. 

Abele was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Groundhog’s Day, Feb. 2, 1927, to Ethel Cook Bertrand and Jerome V. Bertrand. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy and attended Western Reserve University, where she met her husband of 26 years, the late John C. Abele. 

She served as a legal administrator for 24 years at the law firm of Spangenberg, Shibley, Traci & Lancione in Cleveland. She made many lifetime friends, from lawyers to secretaries at the firm. She was an active member of Annunciation Parish and loved singing in the choir with “Griglak’s Gang.” 

After retiring in 1995, she moved to Salt Lake City with her sister, Doris, to be closer to her family. Her new life in Salt Lake included the Newcomers Club, book clubs, the Vincentinos, birthday clubs, and either hosting or attending many parties and social gatherings.  She could always be counted on for a great story about her world travels. 

Abele will be missed by her daughter, Joan C. Abele, M.D. (Cris Cowley, M.D.); her sister, Doris Bertrand; and grandchildren Thomas, Sarah and Jonathan Newhall. 

She was preceded in death by her sister Dolores and brothers Carl and Robert Bertrand.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Abele’s name to the American Heart Association, https://donatenow.heart.org; or Best Friends Association, www.bestfriends.org/donate. 

A Celebration of Life was held at Starks Funeral Parlor. Mass was celebrated at Cottonwood Creek Assisted Living in Salt Lake City.