Gloria Bernal Waite

Gloria Elaria Waite, 56, passed away February 12, 2013. Services will be held Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Visitation will be one hour prior.

Gloria was born in Mexico City, Mexico and moved with her mother to the United States when she was 2 years old. She graduated from Lincoln High School and worked for the US Postal Service and AMF. She also worked for the club, First Avenue in the era of Prince. Gloria later moved to Florida where she met her future husband, Thomas Waite. They were married in 1991 and had two daughters. Gloria loved being a mother. The family then moved to New York before Gloria returned to Iowa in 1999.

In addition to spending time with her daughters, Gloria loved the outdoors. She enjoyed walking Iowa’s state parks looking for items for her nature collection, tending flowers and hunting for morel mushrooms. She also enjoyed testing new recipes, shopping for shoes, and adoring her beloved dogs, Skippy and Precious.

Gloria is survived by her daughters, Emilia Waite of West Des Moines, IA and Julia Waite of Hollywood, FL; her mother, Estolia Bernal of West Des Moines; sisters, Lucille (John) Tarpey of Scituate, MA and Rosa (Randy) Shuman of Marble Head, MA; brother, Lino (Dawn) Bernal of Des Moines, IA; and step-son, Travis Waite of Hollywood, FL, nephews, Zachary Bernal, Isaiah Bazan and Jonah Bernal; and niece, Arianna Bernal. Gloria was preceded in death by her father, Lino Bernal, Sr. and the father of her children, Thomas Waite.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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