Gloria Ataviado-Bridges, longtime resident of Huntingtown, Maryland and a founding member of the Jesus the Divine Word (JDW) Parish, passed away on Feb. 26th at the tender age of 98. In her final moments, she was showered with love and care at home by her nephew Jojo, his wife Carmelita and their children Joel, Katherine and Kristine.

Originally from the Philippines, Gloria – or Tita Glo to us (Tita is Tagalog for aunt) – was one of eight siblings. She was the only one who developed the urge to work overseas, principally in the United States. After World War II and after some semesters in a university, Tita Glo worked as a secretary for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Manila from the late 1940s to the 1950s. She was a generous sister, which made things for all the family members easier as life in Manila after the war was difficult. She bought the family its first TV set.

Her job with USAID paved the way for her to eventually relocate to the US and work for the World Bank in Washington, DC. She may be small in stature, but she had drive and courage in her blood. She left Manila in 1962 only with a fistful of dollars and a bag full of determination to succeed. Tita Glo flew to California (during this time there were no flights yet to the East Coast from Asia) and took a Greyhound bus to DC by herself. She loved her job at the World Bank, where she worked until 1991.

A devout Catholic, Tita Glo was an active member of JDW Parish in Huntingtown, MD until advancing age slowed her down in her late 80s.  She was always proud of the fact that three of her siblings entered religious life.

She was preceded in death by her father Elias, mother Concepcion, brothers Juan, Patricio and Bishop Vicente and Sister Rosario of the Daughters of Charity.

She is survived by the following siblings: Sr. Mary Aimee of the Order of Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Josefina Ataviado-Llamas and Quinciano Ataviado, all of whom reside in the Philippines.

Tita Glo was married to the late David Andrew Bridges, a US Navy veteran who served in the Philippines during World War II (no, they did not meet in the Philippines; they met in DC).