Gloria Louise (Rosanio) Finnegan

Gloria Louise Rosanio was born in Everett MA in 1927, the youngest of eight children of Anthony and Henrietta Rosanio, formerly of Serino, Italy. She was truly an American original. The first of her siblings to graduate college, Salem State College, where she studied to become a teacher. From a young age, she was a clothes horse, voted best dressed in her college class, and luckily her mother was an excellent seamstress, who made all her clothes from Gloria’s simple drawings. She met James Patrick Finnegan, Sr. during her last year in college, a fix-up by her brother Bill. They married and lived their first years in Scarsdale NY, where she taught at the high school while her husband delivered mail. They moved back to Everett to be close to her parents who were getting older and ailing. She was a devoted daughter who cared for both of her parents in their final years. 

In 1957, the couple welcomed their son, James Patrick Jr. and in 1959, another son Peter John. She took a break from teaching for a number of years while her boys were young. She returned to teaching in the Business Department of Everett High School and would stay for nearly 40 years. Her last years there were spent as a Class Master, providing guidance and support to one class through their four year stay at Everett High School.

Gloria was extremely active at the family parish, St. Anthony in Everett. She volunteered with their Eucharistic Ministry, delivering communion to the elderly and sick and co-managed the program for many years. She was an accomplished cook and baker, her holiday cookies and pastries were legendary. She never lost her flair for fashion and was always dressed, coiffed and wearing lipstick, whether she was with friends and family or home alone. 

Gloria died January 17 from complications related to covid pneumonia. Gloria outlived her husband and all her siblings and is survived by her son James Patrick Finnegan Jr., his wife Allyson Bryant Finnegan and their sons James Patrick Finnegan III, and Reilly Bryant Finnegan, and son Peter John Finnegan and his partner Joseph Richard Orfant. 

A funeral mass will be held Saturday January 25 at 9:45am at St. Anthony’s Parish, 38 Oaks Street, in Everett. Immediately preceding the funeral, visitation will be begin at 8:00am at Salvatore Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, 331 Main Street, Everett. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate), a favorite charity of Gloria’s.

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