Southborough/West Dennis – Gloria M. Aspesi, 87, of Southborough and West Dennis, passed away on December 23, 2022, following a long illness. She was the daughter of Peter and Rose Aspesi.
Gloria graduated from Peters High School in Southborough and received both her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Education degrees from Framingham State University. For 39 years she served the Town of Framingham as an educator and administrator before retiring in 1997 after 21 years as Principal of Juniper Hill Elementary School. Gloria was recognized by the Massachusetts School Psychologists Association and the town of Framingham as Principal of the Year, and was a member of many educationally-focused honor societies including: Pi Lambda Theta, Alpha Upsilon Alpha, Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa Gamma. Most important to her was serving as a role model for students, faculty, members of the community and to her nephews and niece.
Gloria loved spending summers on Cape Cod with her mom and sister, and exploring restaurants, beaches and arts and crafts shops with friends and family, as well as volunteering at the Judah Baker Windmill on Bass River. She focused her boundless energy on her nephews and niece, teaching them to play golf and tennis, taking them fishing, clamming, picking blueberries and on countless other adventures.
In retirement, Gloria volunteered with the Framingham Historical Society & Museum and was actively engaged with the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni (IAFSA) where she chaired the Ellen Hyde Fund, offering interest-free assistance to FSC students in need. In 2020, IAFSA created the Gloria Award in her honor to recognize outstanding volunteers.
Gloria is preceded in death by her sister, Marguerite, and brother, Charles. She is survived by her brother, Peter (Marilyn), sister-in-law, Jacqueline, six nephews & nieces: Peter, David (Diana), Stephen (Patricia), Carolyn (James Swenson), Michael (Cami) and Neal (Jennifer); ten great nephews & nieces: Alexandria (Brian McDonald), Kevin, Alexis, Andrew, Annie, Alexander, Lillian, Olivia, Sarah and Laura and one great grandnephew, Brooks.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, December 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew Church, 26 Highland St., Southborough, MA. Burial will follow in Southborough Rural Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Morris-Johnston Funeral Home, 40 Main St., Southborough.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni (IAFSA) General Fund with “The Gloria Award” in the comment section at https://alumnihouse.org/donate/ or 42 Adams Rd., Framingham, MA 01702.
