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Gloria Jean Riner

Gloria Jean Riner passed away just before sunset on April 11, 2012, in Healdsburg.

  A native of San Francisco, she was born on June 8, 1928, and was the daughter of Jean Alice Morse and Charles Jean-Pierre Herrault. She was the adopted daughter of Giovanni Cleto Galli, who raised her since age 2. She raised her family in Marin County and retired to Sonoma County in 1987.

  She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton R. Riner III; her sister, Linda Jo; and her niece, Veronica Claire.

  Despite living with rheumatoid arthritis for more than 80 years, coping with debilitating strokes and enduring more than 40 operations in her lifetime, Gloria’s zest for life was unstoppable.

  She was deeply committed to her Catholic faith, large family and the pursuit of higher education. It took her 17 years, but she never gave up, and at the age of 38 with her husband and seven children by her side, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Sonoma State University. She had five careers in her lifetime but always said “being a mother of seven was my most wonderful and awesome accomplishment.”

  Gloria will be remembered for her beautiful smile, sharp wit, keen mind and vivacious spirit. She loved to eat, talk, sing, dance, travel and be with her family.

  She will be greatly missed by her seven children, Kathy, Valerie, Monica, Gina, Steven, Kevin and Timothy; and her 11 grandchildren, Amanda, Joey, Jessica, Bobby, Kyle, Steve, Joe, Michael, Nicholas, Natalie and Faith. She is also survived by her cousin, Lola M. Pargett; nephew, Christian; grandniece, Haley; grandnephew, Tommy; and four great-grand daughters, Bella, Mia, Taylor Love and Avaleigh.

  A service will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church, 208 Matheson St. in Healdsburg, Friday, April 20, at 11:30 a.m. Private burial at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael.

At a later date, a memorial Mass will be said for her at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Sonoma, where she was a member for 20 years.