Gloria Manary

Gloria Ruth Vajda Manary passed away peacefully on November 14, 2024. She is survived by her sister Judy Harp, her three children, Mark (Mardi) Manary, Melanie Manary (Charles Huebner), Miriam Manary (Matthew Reed), her 7 grandchildren Megan, Micah, Christian, Timothy, Ellen, John, Eva and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, her parents, and her grandson, Matthew Manary. 

Gloria was born on February 2, 1932, in Hannibal, Missouri to John and Susan (Valach) Vajda. She grew up in Ilasco, Missouri, in a closeknit Slovak community. When she was 14 years old, she moved to Detroit and graduated from Northeastern High School. She was a first-generation college student, starting her studies at Northwestern University and earning a BA from the University of Michigan in 1953. Gloria married Wayne Manary in 1955. They lived in Bay City, MI, Bethel Park, PA, Wyckoff, NJ, Midland, MI, and Harrisville, MI. Gloria taught speech, debate, English and communications in secondary schools and at Delta Community College in Bay City, MI. She was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland where she served as a deacon. 

Gloria loved travel, birdwatching, gardening, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was an ace piemaker. Her family enjoyed several pies and three kinds of meat at every holiday meal. She delighted in reading aloud to her grandchildren. Gloria had a passion for University of Michigan basketball and football. She was an avid fan and never missed an opportunity to watch the Wolverines. 

A celebration of life will be held in Ann Arbor on November 30th, and she will be interred at Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal at a future date. Cremation arrangements are being handled by the Grand View Funeral Home of Hannibal.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Gilbert Residence in Ypsilanti, Michigan (https://www.gilbertresidence.com/donations/).