Gloria Irma Copeland

Copeland, Gloria (DiMartino, Connor) departed this life on August 24th at her Hammonton home. She was born to Joseph DiMartino and Leah Baillieux on October 29, 1929 in Hackensack, graduated from Montclair State College and with her first husband, Edward Connor, moved to South Jersey in 1958 where she began the vocation she so loved, first at Pleasantville High School, followed by many years as Spanish teacher and coach at Atlantic City High School. This is also where she met and ultimately married her second husband, Robert Copeland, and they became inseparable, planning a wonderful retirement together, until he succumbed to cancer unexpectedly at a young age.
Despite her loss, Gloria reached out, involved herself with many activities and loved helping anyone who needed help. She enjoyed life, whether playing Bridge, tennis, bowling or traveling.
Always ready to learn something new; always ready to teach, coach or encourage. To quote her good friend of some 40 years, "I liked her the instant I met her at ACHS…Everybody liked Gloria"; "Animals could always count on her"; "She was an intrepid traveler to Europe, then dragged her sister along the following year spending a month with friends near Milano".
She loved her pets, friends and family unconditionally. Her kind and gentle spirit quietly touched many lives. And so, "Say not in grief: "She is no more", but live in thankfulness that she was." (Hebrew)
Gloria leaves behind her sister, Carmella, daughters Diane and Cybele, step-son Marty (Lois), grandchildren Colin, Daniel, Sam and Cindy, and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend her viewing Thursday 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Marinella Funeral Home 102 N. 3rd St. Hammonton, NJ.,with services held at 12:00pm. Burial will be in Laurel Memorial Park Tilton Rd. Pomona, NJ. www.marinellafuneralhome.com
Based on Gloria's love of animals, the family suggests a donation to an animal-related charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.

Funeral Service

Thursday, August 29, 2013
Marinella Funeral Home, Inc. 102 N. Third Street Hammonton, New Jersey, United States 08037

Interment at: Laurel Memorial Park

Thursday, August 29, 2013
Laurel Memorial Park Tilton Road Pomona, New Jersey, United States 08240