Gloria J. (Ferrarotti) Borla

Gloria J. (Ferrarotti) Borla, 86, a lifelong resident of Torrington, CT, passed into eternal life on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.   She was the beloved wife of the late Silvin P. “Sonny” Borla who she married on October 20, 1956, and who preceded her in death on January 2, 2003.

Gloria was born July 9, 1933, daughter of the late Joseph and Angelina (Mella) Ferrarotti.  She grew up in Burrville, where she and her husband built their home and raised their only child, Susan.  She loved to reminisce about attending grammar school in the “2 room Burrville school house”, before graduating from the Torrington High School Class of 1950.  After her high school graduation, she was employed by Hartford National Bank as a Teller, until the birth of her daughter, when she then left to become a stay at home mom and later, caregiver to her mother, Angie, her husband Sonny, as well as to the many relatives and friends who called upon her.  She always made time, for everyone.   Aside from her family, Gloria’s time was devoted to her religion, especially to St. Peter Church, where she volunteered in many capacities for decades.  She taught CCD, participated on the Parish Council, and worked on any projects that the nuns or priests called upon her for assistance, including, but not limited to, volunteering for Rev. Joseph Graziani with the Parish Census, (writing out hundreds of index cards, since this was before computers!), and decorating the church for Christmas and Easter, until she was physically unable to do so.   Since 2005, when she became unable to attend weekly Mass, she watched it on television daily and prayed for everyone who asked her to, or for whom she thought needed prayers!  Gloria’s hobbies included knitting baby clothes and afghans in her younger years, and later “mapeens” (dishcloths) while watching nightly television.   And oh, how Gloria also loved to cook and bake!  Home cooked dinners on the table every night, as well as every Sunday at noon, hardly any exceptions.  She literally made thousands of various homemade cookies, for every occasion imaginable, one cookie sheet at a time, in her single oven.  Her favorite Holiday was Christmas, where she not only played Mrs. Claus to “Santa Sonny” for their nieces and nephews on every Christmas Eve, but when she also would bake various “Christmas cookies”, and would bring small dishes to her aunts, uncles and many cousins.  Later, she taught her caregiver of over 7 years, Helen, how to bake these cookies so that when people would visit, there would always happen to be a “dish of cookies on the counter”.  

In addition to her daughter Susan and son-in-law Tim Cook of Torrington, she is survived by her brother, J. Thomas Ferrarotti of Torrington, as well as several cousins, and many beloved Godchildren, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter Church, (St. John Paul the Great Parish), 107 East Main St., Torrington.  Relatives and friends are asked to meet directly at St. Peter Church.  Burial will follow at St. Francis New Cemetery.  Calling hours will be held Monday, July 22, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cook Funeral Home, 82 Litchfield St., Torrington.

In lieu of sending flowers and other very kind gestures to her family, Susan is respectfully requesting that you remember her mother by donating to Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation (www.northwestcf.org) in her mother’s name where local charities near and dear to her mother’s heart will benefit, or to a charity of your choice that honors her memory and passions.

Condolences may be sent to “Mrs. Borla’s” family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com

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