Word from her friend, Mary Lou Koch

Gloris was my friend, a friendship that began when we were schoolgirls at William Smith, going to classes, dating, and rolling hoops down the hill on Moving-Up Day. Our friendship grew as we raised families in neighboring communities. We met often, swimming several times a week at the Y pool. We met over golf, picking cherries, luncheons, dinner concerts, wedding receptions, and, finally, the bridge table. Gloris, Joyce, Leaf, and I didn't play a lot of bridge, but we did talk a lot, mostly about our families. Gloris was so very proud of her family, and loved them all with all her heart. We laughed a lot and shared our ups and downs, and through it all I never heard Gloris say a cross word. The sweetness of her disposition never varied.

We were moved by her purity and innocence, amazed by her insights, and taught by her faith, which was profound. When my son, who was a new father, developed lumps under his arm, we were all terrified. I knew that Gloris was the person I wanted to talk to and when I told her she said, simply, "Don't worry. We'll pray about it." In less than a week the lumps vanished. What the medical explanation for this was, I don't know, but I do know that it happened, and I will never be the same again. I have a faith that I didn't have before.

Gloris's faith gave her Warren, who has so tenderly loved and cared for her all her adult life, but most of all in these past years. Although I will miss my friend, I am sure that the same faith now surrounds her with the tenderness and love of her Heavenly Father.

Mary Lou Koch
July 10, 1996
St. Luke's Episcopal Church