West Boylston/Northborough – Gloria F. (Johnson) Reycroft, 93, of West Boylston/Northborough passed away on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at the Reservoir Center for Health in Marlborough after a period of declining health.
Born on April 23, 1930 to Capt. Arthur E. Johnson (MDC) and Susan W. (Harnish) Johnson, Gloria grew up as an only child in Lynn, MA. She graduated from Lynn English in 1947 and soon after met her husband, Louis M. Reycroft, Jr. while working at Commerce Insurance in Cambridge. Wed on July 28, 1950, they had 5 children – Louis III (Marilynn Kitchen) of Ithaca, NY, Carolyn (Kerry Burke) of Millville, MA, Donald of Chandler, AZ, Jennifer (Matthew Gillis) of Northborough, MA and Lesli (Mark Fratoni) of Boylston, MA. The family lived in Milton, MA for a period of years before moving to Northborough in 1963.
Gloria was a receptionist for Dr. Jose Correa and Dr. Elsa Li in Northborough for many years. She enjoyed gardening, reading, entertaining, home decorating and vacationing at Ocean Park, Maine. Gloria was a long time member of the Church of the Nativity in Northborough serving as chairperson for the annual Strawberry Festival for a number of years, an alto in the choir and a member of the Small Group community.
Upon retirement, Gloria and Louis moved to West Boylston. Louis passed away in July 2005, just prior to celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary.
Gloria leaves behind her five children, seventeen grandchildren- Louis Reycroft IV, of Norway, ME, Aynsley (Brian Schopfer) of Easton , MD, Emily (Patrick Fleury) of Jackson Hole, WY, Kimberly (Wayne Wolfson) of Sacramento, CA, Sean Burke of Burrville, RI, Kate (George Fraser) of Blackstone, MA, Donald Reycroft, Jr of Brandon, FL, Jean (William Dowling) of Norfolk, MA, Bradford Reycroft (Alicia) of Norfolk, MA, Elizabeth (Michael Collins) of Phoenix, AZ, Gage Gillis (Mary) of Charlton, MA, Caroline Gillis of Northborough, MA, Hannah Gillis of Northborough, MA, Nichole (Jake Murphy) of Worcester, MA, Ashlynn Fratoni of Worcester, MA, Amory Fratoni of San Diego, CA and Cortney Fratoni of Worcester, MA. She leaves behind her 14 great-grandchildren – Charles Reycroft of Bethlehem, CT, Eamon and James Schopfer of Easton, MD, Gavin and Eva Fleury of Jackson Hole, WY, Kaylee and George Fraser of Blackstone, MA, Leo and Abe Dowling of Norfolk, MA, Anna, Braelyn and Bradford Reycroft, Jr. of Norfolk , MA, Victoria Collins of Phoenix, AZ, Colton Murphy of Worcester, MA.
Gloria also leaves behind a niece, Christine Reycroft of Newton, MA, nephew, David Reycroft (Julie) of Dunedin, FL. and one grand-nephew, Chip Reycroft of Dunedin, FL.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours at the Church of the Nativity, 45 Howard Street, Northborough on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 9:00-10:30 A.M. Funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Gloria’s honor may be made to Notre Dame Hospice at www.notredamehealthcare.org or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
The Chiampa Funeral Home of Shrewsbury assisted with arrangements.
