Obituary of Gloria B. Salvador

Gloria B. Salvador (nee Alvarez), 85, of Fairfield, passed away on May 20, 2018 surrounded by her family.  Gloria was born on June 4, 1932, in Quito, Ecuador to the late Albert and Mariana Alvarez.  She was the beloved mother of Robert Salvador and his wife Denise, Maria Salvador and her fiancé John Wittek, and Anna Salvador.  She was the cherished grandmother of Justin-Scott Salvador and his wife Dominica and great-grandmother of Isabella and Edson. She is survived by many siblings, nieces and nephews.  Gloria was predeceased by her former husband Jaime Salvador and her sons, Rodrigo and Aldo Salvador, and by her treasured dog Maxime who was a true companion later in life.

Gloria will be remembered as a woman who loved her children and family unconditionally.  She loved her garden, her beautiful flowers and the miniature stone statues her son Aldo placed throughout the grounds. In the early 1950’s, she studied culinary arts and followed her bliss of cooking throughout her lifetime.  In Ecuador, she owned and operated her own bakery business as a young married and working mother; in her thirties she ran a newspaper and sweetshop in Paterson, New Jersey.  She was an entrepreneur who also ran her own catering business and gave Spanish cooking classes, where she would like to say, “… just like Julia Child.”  In the late 70’s and early 80’s, she left her cooking business and worked at Novartis formally known as Sandoz in East Hanover, New Jersey.  In the 1990’s, she returned to her love of the cooking, when she became a private chef and friend to a Nutley, New Jersey family for a number of years; after retirement, she continued to be part of their family.  Gloria was an exceptional cook who created many family favorites, especially her shrimp "ceviche," a requested favorite at every holiday and event.  In retirement, she discovered and found joy in painting and gardening; she repurposed old furniture and created pieces of art.  With her son, Aldo, she built a private enchanted garden.  She later memorialized her cherished sanctuary in a painting that hung in her guest room. In later years, and with the help of a Good Samaritan (in honor of his Mother), her yard was transformed to a lush green retreat.  

Throughout her senior years, she kept in contact with all the people that touched and enriched her life - her siblings, Yola, Martha, Nelly and Carlos, their children and grand-children from Ecuador and Texas, and all her friends near and far.  With all of their love and support, their friendship, and reading the Unity Daily Word, she gained a strong spiritual quality of life. With the help of her many kind neighbors, she lived an independent, productive life. 

Gloria was loving and thoughtful, never missing an opportunity to share in the joys of life with family, friends, and strangers.  Gloria will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her... she is at peace now, reunited with her beloved sons and Maxime. 

May God bless her soul.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service on Sunday, June 3rd at 11:00am at the American Legion, 133 Main Street, Lincoln Park, NJ. 

Should you wish to participate Memorial donations for Gloria may be sent to:

Eleventh Hour Dog Rescue

Route 10 E

Randolph, NJ 07869

http://www.ehrdogs.org

or to the 

Waikiki Health Center

http://waikikihc.org/how-to-help/donate/