Obituary of Gloria Ocampo Close

We celebrate the beautiful life of our beloved Gloria Ocampo Close who passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023.  She was born in Manila, Philippines on June 14, 1949 and came to San Francisco in the 1970’s. From San Francisco she boarded a bus to Bayonne, NJ with not much more than a package of crackers.  Gloria loved America so much that she overstayed her visa, working 3 jobs to secure her green card.  She fell in love and married the love of her life, Fred on May 1, 1974. They were married for almost 50 years.  They lived in Staten Island and later moved to Manalapan.  Together they had 3 children, Allison, Brian, and Melanie.  Gloria founded her own embroidery company (The Stitchery) in 1996 when the family needed extra funding for college costs. 

          Gloria was a lifelong advocate for children and learning.  She was a PTA member and loved being on the school board.   She was a member of St. Thomas More Church and a yoga enthusiast.  She volunteered for the Manalapan Domestic Violence Team and provided support for victims in need. She was an incredible gardener and shared her constant bounty of organic vegetables with all.  She was a fierce loving mother to her children and their friends as well.  The house was often filled with friends and family and no one ever left hungry.  She was known for her pancit, adobo, and Greek cookies.  Most of all, she was the very best “gmama” and showered her grandchildren with love, affection, and attention.

Gloria is survived by her husband Fred, daughter Allison Atkinson (Christopher), son Brian Close (Kiki), daughter Melanie Viani (Daniel), granddaughters Juliana and Ainslie Atkinson, grandsons Theo and Lachlan Atkinson, granddaughter Gigi Viani, her sisters Trinidad and Josephine, and her brother Juanito.  We will miss her terribly but are content that she is with her parents, Jesus and Geronima Ocampo, and her brothers Mario and Alejandro, who all preceded her in death. We truly love her and miss her.  Her memory lives on in the incredible legacy she has left behind. 

        The family would like to personally thank all the doctors, nurses, friends, various organizations and individuals who provided her with strength and encouragement to help her navigate such dark times.

We know she is in a better place and will never be forgotten.

Friends and family are invited to visit on Sunday, November 5^th, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, at Freeman Manalapan Marlboro Funeral Home, 344 Route 9 North.  A funeral service will be held at Freeman Manalapan Marlboro Funeral Home on Monday at 11:00 AM. Entombment will follow at Marlboro Memorial Cemetery & Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to https://www.marysplacebythesea.org/ and https://ocrahope.org/. To leave a condolence or find directions, visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.