Gladys Dora Digangi

Gladys Dora DiGangi passed away peacefully with her family by her side on October 21, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC at the age of 97.  She was born in Rutland, VT on February 11, 1927, daughter of Amelia (Rossi) and Rizieri Bolgioni.  She attended Rutland Public Schools and graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy, class of 1944.  She then entered the Rutland Hospital School of Nursing to become a Registered Nurse.  She also attended Seton Hall University in Newark, NJ.

As a nurse, Gladys worked at the Halloran VA Hospital on Staten Island, NY (now closed), the VA Hospital in East Orange, NJ and the Rutland Regional Medical Center.  In later years, after her children were older, she worked part time as an office nurse in Rutland, VT.

In her earlier days she enjoyed her volunteer work which included the Red Cross Blood Services, Rutland Regional Medical Center and the Paramount Theater Usher Staff. She also loved supporting the West Rutland township working along with others to establish the very first kindergarten class in the town and to plant flowers in the traffic islands at the end of Clarendon Avenue.

Gladys was a member of St. Bridget Church in West Rutland and the Proctor Pittsford Country Club where she enjoyed playing golf with her friends.  She loved traveling with her husband Leo to many destinations within the United States as well as to Italy. Family trips to Maine and Cape Cod were always looked forward to. During COVID, the family moved both their parents to North Carolina so they could be closer to their daughter.  Chapel Hill, NC is where Gladys spent her remaining years enjoying new friends at Azalea Estates, hearing about the hometown she loved through letters and cards from friends and family and surrounded by family until her passing.

Married for 62 years, she is pre-deceased by her husband Leonard Patrick DiGangi, her sister Deva Bolgioni and bothers Lawrence Bolgioni and Robert Bolgioni.

She is survived by her daughter Mary Ann (Frank) Fallon of Chapel Hill, NC, and son Mark (Tanja) DiGangi of Essex Junction, VT.  Grandchildren, Emilie Fallon of Raleigh, NC and Samuel Fallon of Sandy, UT as well as Stefan and Nikolas DiGangi of Essex Junction, VT, Hunter DiGangi of South Burlington, VT and Keely Colburn (Evan) Giard of Morristown, VT, in addition to many loved nieces and nephews.

In accordance with her wishes, there will be no calling hours.  A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on November 16, 2024 at St. Bridget Church, 28 Church St. and burial will take place immediately following on the same day at St. Bridget Cemetery both in West Rutland, VT.  The celebrant will be Fr. Richard Crawley, O.F.M. Cap.  Arrangements are being organized by Clifford’s Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Central Vermont Humane Society, St. Bridget Church or the West Rutland Food Shelf.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.