BUCKLEY, Gloria Catherine (nee Chisholm) - (1926 - 2021) - Gloria Catherine Buckley (nee Chisholm) passed away peacefully at her home in Toronto on Monday, January 25, 2021 in the presence of her loving family.
Predeceased by her beloved husband Robert, Gloria is survived by her devoted sons Brian (Janet) of North Bay, Roger of Toronto, and Philip of Montreal.
Gloria was the oldest of five girls. She is survived by her dear younger sisters Rita Spence and Elizabeth Kaufman (Richard) and brother-in-law Don.
Predeceased by her sisters Mary Reinhart, and Agnes Smith, and her brothers-in-law Ed and John.
She was loved by all of her grandchildren and their families, who were with her in her final days: Brian’s children Michael (Carolyn), Kevin (Riann), David (Jenny), and Katie (Taylor) Buckley; and Roger’s children Jon (Kate), Marc (Liz), and Luke (Julia) Buckley. Gloria adored her great-grandchildren and was so pleased to know that more were on the way!
Gloria is fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and cousins, even though she sometimes kicked them out of the kitchen.
Gloria was born August 6, 1926 on a farm just outside of Goderich, Ontario, and learned from her parents Leo and Mary Chisholm the centrality of family, faith, and communal solidarity as they survived the depression years. Here too she developed her love and respect for our environment, which she enjoyed sharing later in life with family and friends at her cottage on Georgian Bay. And, of course, the ability to work hard: Gloria liked to say that “after living on a farm, nothing ever actually seems like work!”
She used her innate intelligence and work ethic to earn her way to St. Michael’s College on a prestigious scholarship from the University of Toronto. Moving to Toronto in 1944 and living in residence at St. Joseph’s College during her formative undergraduate years provided friendships and experiences that would ground a truly astounding life. The ministries of the Basilan Fathers and the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Mike’s fostered her life-long dedication to education and the call to care for those in need.
While busily engaged in the challenging Honours program in Math, Physics and Chemistry at UofT, she and her classmates, many of whom remained close, came to realize that disciplined work and good fun were both necessary components of a happy life. It was at St. Mike’s that she met Bob, her husband, best friend and confidant, whose premature death in 1980 she mourned quietly in Christian hope and with great dignity for the rest of her life.
One of the few women in her program, Gloria was a pioneer for women in science following her graduation in 1948. Her work in clinical biochemistry at St. Michael’s Hospital and then basic research at the University of Toronto expressed her deep belief in the goodness that comes from knowledge put at the service of humanity.
Balancing this productive professional life was her complete dedication to her family both immediate and extended. Gloria could discern what was truly needed by whoever turned to her, be it wise counsel, gentle care, a joke, or perhaps, a firm challenge.
At the core of Gloria’s existence was her faith. Occasionally worrying that she was not “pious” enough, everyone recognized her pragmatic piety. She was an engaged member of the Holy Rosary and then St. Anselm parish families, an active leader in the Parents' Guild while her sons went through St. Michael’s College School, and retained close connection to St. Michael’s College through her work on the Alumni Board, and also her service to the Senior Alumni Association at UofT. She was so pleased to commit as an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1982. Gloria’s service to the Church was recognized by her investiture in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in 1982 by Cardinal Carter.
While devoted to her faith community, Gloria was “Catholic” in the true sense of the word, with profound connections and friendships with many in other traditions here at home and throughout the world.
The Buckley family is thankful for the many expressions of condolences. Prayers led by our cousin Fr. Peter Rowe are being offered for Gloria at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home, Toronto on Saturday, January 30, 2021. The Mass of Christian Resurrection will be said later this year at St. Anselm’s when conditions permit more of her many friends to attend.
If desired, memorial donations designated to the building fund at St. Anselm’s Catholic Church (stanselmsto.archtoronto.org) or to the Robert J. Buckley Memorial Scholarship c/o The University of St. Michael’s College (stmikes.utoronto.ca) will be gratefully received.
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