Gloria Alice Kyle was born to Fred and Margaret Porter Kyle. She was adopted by Marie and James Killilea in 1946. She was a pivotal character in both "Karen" and "With Love From Karen" both bestselling books written by Marie Killilea about her daughter Karen who was born with Cerebral Palsy.
On June 30, 1958, she was married to C. Russell Lea in Larchmont, N.Y. Gloria was employed as a legal secretary with a law firm in Peekskill, New York. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary in Yorktown where she served as a secretary and chaplain.
Gloria was a spunky gal who had her own opinions and was not afraid to speak out.
In 1968,she had her share of tragedy when she lost her two young daughters, Mary(9)and Evelyn(7) and niece, Michelle Smiley (6) in a fire which totally destroyed their home. Her fervent faith in her religion helped her deal with this sad event.
In 2001, Gloria was survived by her husband Russ Lea and her two sons, Russell and James, her sister Jean Lindsey and three grandchildren. She was also survived by her adoptive sisters and brother: Marie Irish, Karen Killilea, Kristin Viltz and Rory Killilea. She was preceeded in death by her biological parents Fred and Margaret Kyle, her adoptive parents Marie and James Killilea and her daughters Mary Delourdes and Evelyn Ann and niece Michelle Smiley.
Thank you to the Killilea Fans Group at Yahoo for all their help.
(1) The picture is of the house known as "Sursum Corda"(Lift Up Your Hearts) where Gloria lived with the Killilea family.
(2) In the group picture of the Killilea family Gloria is standing against the fireplace.
On June 30, 1958, she was married to C. Russell Lea in Larchmont, N.Y. Gloria was employed as a legal secretary with a law firm in Peekskill, New York. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary in Yorktown where she served as a secretary and chaplain.
Gloria was a spunky gal who had her own opinions and was not afraid to speak out.
In 1968,she had her share of tragedy when she lost her two young daughters, Mary(9)and Evelyn(7) and niece, Michelle Smiley (6) in a fire which totally destroyed their home. Her fervent faith in her religion helped her deal with this sad event.
In 2001, Gloria was survived by her husband Russ Lea and her two sons, Russell and James, her sister Jean Lindsey and three grandchildren. She was also survived by her adoptive sisters and brother: Marie Irish, Karen Killilea, Kristin Viltz and Rory Killilea. She was preceeded in death by her biological parents Fred and Margaret Kyle, her adoptive parents Marie and James Killilea and her daughters Mary Delourdes and Evelyn Ann and niece Michelle Smiley.
Thank you to the Killilea Fans Group at Yahoo for all their help.
(1) The picture is of the house known as "Sursum Corda"(Lift Up Your Hearts) where Gloria lived with the Killilea family.
(2) In the group picture of the Killilea family Gloria is standing against the fireplace.
Gloria Alice Kyle was born to Fred and Margaret Porter Kyle. She was adopted by Marie and James Killilea in 1946. She was a pivotal character in both "Karen" and "With Love From Karen" both bestselling books written by Marie Killilea about her daughter Karen who was born with Cerebral Palsy.
On June 30, 1958, she was married to C. Russell Lea in Larchmont, N.Y. Gloria was employed as a legal secretary with a law firm in Peekskill, New York. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary in Yorktown where she served as a secretary and chaplain.
Gloria was a spunky gal who had her own opinions and was not afraid to speak out.
In 1968,she had her share of tragedy when she lost her two young daughters, Mary(9)and Evelyn(7) and niece, Michelle Smiley (6) in a fire which totally destroyed their home. Her fervent faith in her religion helped her deal with this sad event.
In 2001, Gloria was survived by her husband Russ Lea and her two sons, Russell and James, her sister Jean Lindsey and three grandchildren. She was also survived by her adoptive sisters and brother: Marie Irish, Karen Killilea, Kristin Viltz and Rory Killilea. She was preceeded in death by her biological parents Fred and Margaret Kyle, her adoptive parents Marie and James Killilea and her daughters Mary Delourdes and Evelyn Ann and niece Michelle Smiley.
Thank you to the Killilea Fans Group at Yahoo for all their help.
(1) The picture is of the house known as "Sursum Corda"(Lift Up Your Hearts) where Gloria lived with the Killilea family.
(2) In the group picture of the Killilea family Gloria is standing against the fireplace.
On June 30, 1958, she was married to C. Russell Lea in Larchmont, N.Y. Gloria was employed as a legal secretary with a law firm in Peekskill, New York. She was active in the American Legion Auxiliary in Yorktown where she served as a secretary and chaplain.
Gloria was a spunky gal who had her own opinions and was not afraid to speak out.
In 1968,she had her share of tragedy when she lost her two young daughters, Mary(9)and Evelyn(7) and niece, Michelle Smiley (6) in a fire which totally destroyed their home. Her fervent faith in her religion helped her deal with this sad event.
In 2001, Gloria was survived by her husband Russ Lea and her two sons, Russell and James, her sister Jean Lindsey and three grandchildren. She was also survived by her adoptive sisters and brother: Marie Irish, Karen Killilea, Kristin Viltz and Rory Killilea. She was preceeded in death by her biological parents Fred and Margaret Kyle, her adoptive parents Marie and James Killilea and her daughters Mary Delourdes and Evelyn Ann and niece Michelle Smiley.
Thank you to the Killilea Fans Group at Yahoo for all their help.
(1) The picture is of the house known as "Sursum Corda"(Lift Up Your Hearts) where Gloria lived with the Killilea family.
(2) In the group picture of the Killilea family Gloria is standing against the fireplace.
