Gloria Irene Pelow

East Longmeadow – Gloria Irene (Massoia) Pelow, 97, passed away peacefully on Tuesday November 9, 2021. Gloria was born in Springfield MA on April 11, 1924 to the late Louis and Louise (Pomina) Massoia. She grew up in Springfield and attended Springfield High School of Commerce. She found love with her neighborhood sweetheart, Wesley Pelow, and while he bravely served in the South Pacific, Gloria worked as quality control for rifles in the Armory. They married in 1945 after his return.
Gloria worked for forty years at Blakes Department Store as a stock clerk before they closed, and continued to work for many years after. She was an active member of Holy Name Parish for many years and a past member of their bowling league.
She was a social butterfly, who made friends easily with her warm and cheerful personality and energizing spirit. She loved cooking and baking and keeping busy with her bowling league, Bingo and taking long walks outside. She felt deeply for her family, and was very close to her mother Louise before she passed. She loved her two daughters fiercely and she cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and looked forward to spending time together.
She will be deeply missed by her daughters Kathleen Fontaine of Longmeadow, and Cynthia Jarasunas and her husband Vytas of Burbank CA, her four grandchildren, Timothy Dupuis and wife Jill, Christopher Dupuis and wife Maryann, Elizabeth Jarasunas and Wesley Jarasunas, her three great-grandchildren, T.J., Lily, and Ben Dupuis, and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
In addition to her parents, Gloria was predeceased by her husband Wesley Pelow, and her siblings Mary Mapson and Louis Massoia, and her beloved son-in-law, Joseph Fontaine.
Gloria’s family would like to thank all the staff at JGS, the staff at Spectrum Hospice and Home Health, especially Rebecca, Diane, Ellen, Alana, and Laurie, for all of their care for her, and especially Dr. Lisa Glading-DiLorenzo and her assistant, Laurie and Gloria’s longtime health aide, Maxine Hall.
Visitation for family and friends will be Monday November 15, 2021, from 4-7pm in Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 N. Main St., East Longmeadow MA. Funeral services will be on Tuesday November 16, 2021 at 8:45am in the funeral home, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00am in Holy Name Parish, 323 Dickinson St., Springfield MA. Burial will be in Hillcrest Park Cemetery, Springfield.
Memorial Contributions in Gloria’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105. To leave an online condolence, visit www.forastiere.com.