Gloriana B. Chumo
July 25, 1938 - February 14, 2021 Resident of Oakland, CA
Gloriana B. Chumo died unexpectedly on Sunday, February 14, 2021, and thus, on Valentine’s Day, was reunited with her beloved husband of 41 years, the late Peter M. Chumo. Gloriana was the loving, devoted mother to their only child, Peter N. Chumo II. She is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law Christopher Budech and Mary Jane Shirakawa and their children Krsto and Keiko, niece and nephew Donna and Peter Fletcher and their daughters Hannah and Hope, niece Diana Toutjian and her daughter Emma, as well as cousins Stefania Parks and Reg Parks. Gloriana is preceded in death not only by her husband but also by her brother-in-law Nicholas P. Chumo, parents Christie and Anna Budech, and sister Christiana Budech.
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Gloriana spent one year as a teenager in Jackson, California, before returning to Oakland. During her youth, she was involved in the local Serbian-American community and attended St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, where she had a stint as the choir director. Having later developed a deep interest in Catholicism, she converted as an adult and attended a variety of churches in the East Bay, including Sacred Heart, St. Leo the Great, St. Theresa, and Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish.
After graduating from Oakland Technical High School in 1956, she immediately went to work for Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, married the love of her life in 1966, was a stay-at-home mom for many years (serving for a while as Den Mother when her son was a Cub Scout), and later worked part-time at Caulfield’s Office Products in Oakland before retiring.
Gloriana touched so many lives with her kindness and compassion, and her loss is immeasurable. She had a wide circle of friends, near and far, most notably her Friday-afternoon lunch group of Angelo Baroni, Nancy Awwad, and Kay Decorah. Through an interest in eBay, she made lifelong friendships across the country, most notably with Lisa Eaton of Michigan and Bonnie Mintz of Florida.
Mother and son were best friends and did everything together. While living with mobility challenges due to multiple sclerosis, Gloriana lived her life to the fullest and was always up for a new adventure. They enjoyed going to concerts and reveled in meet-and-greets with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Lindsey Stirling, and the “Dancing with the Stars” cast. They were avid moviegoers and were well-known at many of the theaters throughout the Bay Area. She loved the annual Oscar bashes and contests held at her favorite theaters.
Her last trip to SoCal encompassed everything from an all-night triple feature at Quentin Tarantino’s New Beverly Cinema in West Hollywood to the Paramount Pictures Studio Tour and finally an inspiring visit to the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley.
They especially loved taking trips to Las Vegas, enjoying the dining and entertainment on the Strip (concerts such as Britney Spears, Celine Dion, and Lady Gaga; magic shows such as the Mac King Comedy Magic Show and David Copperfield; impressionist Gordie Brown; and a slew of variety shows) and playing the keno and other slot machines. And what trip to Vegas would be complete without a dish of chicken wings and a visit with the lovely ladies at the Hooters restaurant in the Hooters Casino Hotel?
Her son says that she was the best mom ever and that he misses her terribly. The hole in his life will never be filled. While she was 82 years old, there were so many more good times to be had, which makes her untimely passing all the more tragic.
A rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 30 Mandalay Road, Oakland, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 16. Entombment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward will follow immediately afterward. Feel free to memorialize Gloriana’s passing in whatever manner you choose. Mass intentions are always welcome.