Gloria Alexandra Torina, "Honey"

Gloria Alexandra Torina (nee Miezio), affectionately known as "Honey" originally of the Northwest side of Chicago, then Lake Zurich, Wauconda, and Rolling Meadows, passed away peacefully on March 6th, 2025, at the age of 90. Beloved mother of Daryl "Cookie" Torina and Francine Torina. Cherished wife of the late Vito Torina. Adored daughter of the late Alex and the late Therese, Miezio. Loving sister of the late Lynn Colias, and the late Florence Treder. Fond aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Gloria was born on February 14,1935 to Alexander and Therese Miezio. She grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago and graduated from Taft High School. Her desire to work in the medical field led her to work for doctors in the Chicago area, and then brought her to Phoenix, Arizona, where her first child, Daryl, was born, and earned the nickname "Cookie". After starting her family and returning to the Chicago area, she worked many years as a cocktail waitress, including at The Old Town Gate, where she met Vito Torina, and married in 1968. Having been blessed with the arrival of Francine, Gloria ventured into Real Estate where she was a very successful agent at Starck Realty in Lake Zurich for many years. Realizing the need to work nights, in order to share care for Francine, she set her sights on working as a Traffic Agent at Flying Tigers, and Federal Express. Gloria loved to travel and was afforded many opportunities to "jump seat" her way around the world.

Later, in her retirement, Gloria often travelled with her daughter, Daryl "Cookie". In addition to travel, and all of her careers, Gloria loved to read, zip around town in her bright red Volkswagen convertible, cultivate her garden and flowers, go out to restaurants, watch baseball and golf on television, and entertain at home, cooking for her guests. She loved to go to baseball games, especially White Sox games, as they were #1 in our home (the Cubs were #2).     

Gloria, a devoted Mama to Francine, gave much of her time and energy to Misericordia, especially fundraising, while Francine was living there. Then, as Francine moved to the Clearbrook Commons in Rolling Meadows, Mom held "parties" every Saturday night for any of the residents who wanted to join in. She provided activities, treats, and most importantly, music, with her portable CD player. She knew what every person liked to do, and what their capabilities were, and provided activities, puzzles, books, coloring books, crayons, paper, colored pencils, as well as personal requests, to each of them.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Therese Miezio, her son, David Ordonez, her husband, Vito Torina, and her older sisters, Lynn (Jim) Colias, and Florence (George) Treder. She is survived by her beloved daughters, Daryl "Cookie", and Francine Torina, many loving nieces and nephews, and many relatives, colleagues, and friends, including her best friend of 80 years, Wanda Burns.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, March 29th, at St. Monica's Church, 5136 N. Nottingham Ave., Chicago, IL 60656, with Visitation at 10am, followed by Mass at 11am. Then a short Burial Service will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, at Belmont and Cumberland Avenues, River Grove, IL 60171, 708-453-0184. Please park at the parking lot near the Office, and we will be escorted to the Burial Site together. A Luncheon will follow, at The Jolly Inn, 6501 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60634. Please enter through the Banquet Hall Entrance, on Irving Park Rd. 

In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated in Gloria's name to, The Clearbrook Commons, 3201 Campbell St., Rolling Meadows, IL 60008.

Arrangements entrusted with Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL.