Gloria O. Beideman

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Gloria Ann Orloski Beideman, age 84, of Wilmington, Delaware.  She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

Gloria was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1940 to John and Mary Orloski, who emigrated from Poland.  She was the ninth of ten children and she grew to cherish her Polish cultural heritage.  In her youth, she enjoyed and participated in Krakowiak dance performances, a traditional Polish dance.  As she raised her own family, she enjoyed sharing those traditions during a lifetime of family celebrations and countless holiday meals, ensuring the passage of these values to her children and grandchildren.  Her children are blessed that Gloria instilled the importance of maintaining family bonds and are proud to benefit from the enjoyment of the company of extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins.

Gloria graduated from St. Ann’s High School in Scranton, PA and eventually moved to Wilmington, Delaware.  She was employed as a medical secretary at Wilmington General Hospital, where she taught herself medical billing and coding procedures by reading the coding books and calling insurance companies, a crucial skill she achieved decades before Google & YouTube.  She immediately forged lifelong friendships and joined Beta Sigma Phi, a philanthropic sorority. Her close friends introduced Gloria to her future husband, Andy, in Wilmington and they were soon married on April 8, 1961.

Gloria’s Roman Catholic faith was very important to her as she raised her family in the St. Catherine of Siena parish.  She was an active parishioner and was very involved in social committees; she was particularly proud to join her husband Andy as Eucharistic Ministers during their retirement years.

Gloria was a busy homemaker while raising her five children, tending her huge vegetable garden for canning and freezing vegetables, and delighted in preparing delicious homemade meals every day, as well as elaborate Sunday dinners, for her large family of seven.  As soon as her youngest child reached school age, Gloria resumed her medical secretarial career for a few local physicians in the Wilmington area.

Gloria was preceded in death by her adoring husband of sixty-one years, Andrew Henry Beideman, Sr.

Gloria is survived by her five children; daughter Karen B. Clawson (Joseph) of Lewes, DE; daughter Cynthia “Cindy” B. Campanella (John) of Newark, DE; daughter TheresaMarie “Terri” B. Ray (Clyde) of Newark, DE; son Andrew “Drew’ Beideman, Jr. of Dover, DE; and daughter Melissa “Missy” B. Trent (Jeffrey) of Townsend, DE.  Gloria is also survived by her sister, Joan A. Hines, of Souderton, PA.

She was very proud of her nine grandchildren; Matthew Clawson, Catherine Mellinger, Mark Campanella, Jaclyn Campanella Klein, Madelyn and Johnathan Ray, Marygrace Beideman, and Taylor and Hailey Trent; and one great granddaughter, Penelope Mellinger.

The family graciously thanks the compassionate caregivers at the Newark Manor Nursing Home and AccentCare.

To celebrate Gloria’s life, the family invites you to a visitation at 10:00 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, located at 2503 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19808.  Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Catherine of Siena Church or the  Alzheimer’s Association.