Gloria Jean (Romeo) Jeffrey
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Gloria Jean (Romeo) Jeffrey, 64, a Du Quoin native, died in her home at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, after a 22 year battle with cancer, while surrounded by family and friends.
Gloria was born on July 8, 1946 in Du Quoin, Illinois. She attended Sacred Heart Elementary School before her family relocated to Orange, California in in 1957. There, she attended Holy Family School, Mater Dei High School and graduated from Orange High School in 1964.
She was very active in the Ebell Society in Santa Ana, California. She served on fund-raising committees for Holy Family Cathedral and was an enthusiastic supporter of Mater Dei football her entire life. She worked for many years as an Interior Decorator for Higgins Design & Interiors in Orange and in various capacities at the Long Beach Yacht Club, where she is remembered fondly by guests and staff alike. She enjoyed decorating her Craftsman Bungalow style home for every holiday and it was a favorite with the City of Orange Old Towne Preservation Association.
Gloria was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution through her 4th Great Grandfather, Captain John Gordon, who served under General George Rogers Clark in the Illinois Campaign and under Daniel Boone at the Battle of Blue Licks.
Gloria's unique laugh could lighten the darkest room. She was generous of heart and spirit and beloved by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her sisters Marlene Frances Romeo and Carole Ann (Romeo) Huhn, her parents Frank and Julia (Gordon) Romeo, and her Grandparents Edward William and Sophie Margaret (Hepp) Gordon of Pinckneyville, Illinois and Joseph and Rose Romeo of Du Quoin, Illinois and Cirella, Calabria, Italy.
Gloria is survived by her daughter Melissa Lea (Jeffrey) Tovatt, her son-in-law Robert Michael Tovatt Jr. and her grandson Richard William Tovatt of Lake Elsinore, California; her brother Frank Romeo of Orange and her brother-in-law Russell Lee Huhn, also of Orange; nieces and nephews, Frank Joseph Romeo III of West Covina, California, Kristi Lee (Huhn) Crisp and John Ogle Crisp of Fillmore, California, Timothy Gordon Huhn and Amy (Beyl) Huhn of Yorba Linda, California and Robin Nicole Romeo of Los Angeles, California; great-nieces Victoria Elizabeth and Abigail Grace Huhn and great-nephew Grayson Wilborn Crisp; cousins Rose Marie Bova of Du Quoin, Illinois, Antoinette and Edward Martie of Murphysboro, Illinois, Joseph and Rita Riggio of Du Quoin, Illinois, Bill and Rita Neal of Hammond, Louisiana, Mary and Tim Wassail of Fontana, California and Bonnie Jo and Eric Dallas Forby and their sons Jacob Dallas and Samuel Edward of Murphysboro, Illinois.
A private Rosary was held on Monday, March 7. Requiem Mass took place at 12 noon on Tuesday, March 8 at Holy Family Cathedral, 566 South Glassell Street, Orange CA 92866 with Interment at 1:15 p.m. at Santa Ana Cemetery, 1919 E Santa Clara Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Afterward, the Long Beach Yacht Club graciously hosted a Celebration of Life for Gloria's family and friends.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Gloria (Romeo) Jeffrey, 351 S. Center St, Orange, CA 92866.