Gloria Brucker

Gloria Orlacchio Brucker, age 94 of West Long Branch, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 25, 1928, to Edith and Adam Orlacchio in Jersey City, New Jersey, and she graduated from Dickinson High School. Starting as a young girl, she summered in Long Branch. She was married on October 29, 1950 to her loving and dear husband, George, and moved to the Shore where she remained for the rest of her life.

She was active in many organizations throughout her lifetime and enjoyed doing charity work and serving the community. She was President many times of the SEARCH Auxiliary for Autistic Children / SEARCH Day Program. The children were close to her heart. She was President of the Monmouth University Library Association and President several times of the Henry Pollak Auxiliary of Monmouth Medical Center, where she was honored for her dedication to the Auxiliary. She was President of the Monmouth Opera Guild and a member of the Monmouth Park Charity Ball Committee, where she was honored in 2007 as the Volunteer of the Year. She was a volunteer for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, American Committee on Italian Migration, Columbus Day Parade Festival, Crystal Ball Committee, and Navy League.

She was a parishioner of St. Michael’s Church and a member of the Altar Rosary Society. She was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Anthony. Her faith in God was the most important thing in her life, as was her family.

She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 53 years, Dr. George J. Brucker; her parents Edith and Adam Orlacchio; her sister Marie Cunningham and husband William and their daughter Edythe and son William; her sister Katherine DeSevo and husband Matthew; her sister Juliette Page and her son Robert; daughter-in-law Nadine, and daughter Gloria; her brothers Anthony Orlacchio and Dr. William Orlacchio; her in-laws Mary and George Brucker, John and Ann Murphy, Marie Orlacchio, and Patrick Dougherty.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all her nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly. This includes her daughter Dr. Michele Brucker-Collier and husband Dr. Kevin Collier; her son Craig Brucker and wife Bonnie; her daughter Deborah Kelly and husband David Rosenbacher; and her daughter Jacqueline Stuckey and husband Robert. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Brittany Collier-Ihrig and husband Michael Ihrig, Dr. Zachary Collier and wife Marie Vallido Collier, Kimberly Collier, Griffen Kelly and wife Kim, Eva Stuckey, Kellie Dougherty, Arturas Rosenbacher, and Gabrielle Rosenbacher and great granddaughters, Kylie and Kacie Box. Additionally, she is survived by her sisters-in-law Rita Orlacchio and Anita Orlacchio and her caretaker of seven years, Ellen Alfier.

Her greatest joy in life was her family, whom she loved dearly. She was the happiest when all the family was together. Her nieces and nephews were very dear to her, as were her friends who meant the world to her. She always said the most important thing in life is the love of God and family, and she was truly blessed with a beautiful life.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 from 3 – 8 pm at the Damiano Funeral Home, 191 Franklin Avenue, Long Branch. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 am from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at St. Michael’s Church in West End, Long Branch. Entombment will follow at Woodbine Mausoleum in Oceanport. Donations can be made to the SEARCH Day Program at 73 Wickapecko Drive, Ocean, New Jersey 07712.

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