Obituary of Gloria Taylor
Gloria died on her terms, in her way, with the help of the MAID program, peacefully on March 8, 2021, surrounded by her family.
She was predeceased by her parents, Charlie and Helen Roach, and survived by her siblings, John Roach and Wendy Gallienne.
She was life partner to Robert Litke and loved mother to her son, John Martin Taylor (Michelle), and her daughter, Dawne Taylor-Gilders (Sean), Steve Litke (Tamara) and Benjamin Litke (Amanda). Grandmother to Taylor Gilders and Devon Gilders and Jesse and Lauren Taylor as well as Amber and Natalie. Great-Grandmother to Ayla and Aria. Gloria was predeceased by her former husband and friend John Michael Taylor.
Gloria was born in Sudbury in 1938. She graduated as an R.N. from Toronto East General Hospital in 1960.
She later moved to Waterloo in the late 1970’s and obtained her B.A. from Wilfrid Laurier and her M.A. from California Family Studies Centre/UFC Davis Centre.
She worked at Interfaith Pastoral Counselling Centre in Kitchener where she taught, managed a family counselling practice and became a Supervisor. She also taught MSW students about Virginia Satir, Family Reconstruction and Family of Origin at the School of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.
She left Interfaith and started her private family practice through Lifestreams in 2001 and continued to work in private practice until most recently when her health precluded her from continuing further.
She will forever be remembered fiercely in the hearts of her family, friends, clients, co-workers, and for the outstanding contribution she made in the field of marriage and family therapy. She was a leader in the Family Therapy world and worked tirelessly furthering the message of Virginia Satir and her work in Family Reconstruction and the Satir model. Her work changed people's lives. Gloria brought herself wholly and completely into the therapeutic process teaching her students and clients about family, love, compassion, mercy and forgiveness. Her insights, sense of humour, and love of her work touched people around the world.
She travelled to Israel, Hawaii, U.S.A., and Cuba teaching psycho-therapy. In the latter part of her career, Gloria travelled to China where she taught students about Virginia Satir, Family of Origin and Family Reconstruction. It was one of the most rewarding chapters in her life.
She modeled courage and independence, fought for the underdog, loved humour and left a lasting impression on the therapy world and the people she touched.
She will be greatly missed and, as she said herself shortly before her passing, “I liked it here, lived hard, loved hard and will miss it.”
Details of a future gathering in Gloria’s honour on or close to her birthday in August will be announced by her family at a later date.
The family would like to thank Dr. Sean Gartner and Dr. Martha Taylor for their care, laughter and grace. You are truly loving hearts.
In memory of Gloria donations may be made to Toronto Geneal Hospital or Canadian Mental Health Association may be arranged through the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.