Gloria Mae (Croker) Pilkington

Gloria Mae (Croker) Pilkington, 84, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Gloria was a lifelong resident of Brockton, born April 21, 1939 to the late Louis Edward Croker, Sr. and Maria daGloria Dias Croker. Gloria spent most of her life living on the North side of Brockton, growing up on Spark Street, a communicant of St. Edward’s Parish, graduating from Brockton High School in 1957, working for Bay State Gas Company on Belmont Street where she met her husband, and raising six children with her husband in the Montello neighborhood of the city.

Gloria was always a fan of singing and dancing. She was a majorette in high school and performed in many shows for church and school glee clubs. Her proudest moment was playing the role of Kathy Selden in “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Gloria met her late husband Peter Herbert Pilkington, Jr. while they both worked for Bay State Gas Company.  The two were married January 24, 1960, celebrating 63 years of marriage earlier this year.  The two planted deep roots in their Brockton neighborhood in “The Village.” They raised their six children, welcomed nine grandchildren, and had almost 30 years of happy, healthy retirement in their homebase.    

Gloria’s family was her passion. She put all her time and energy into raising her six children, not to mention grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighborhood children. She had the utmost patience and was genuinely the most kind and compassionate person. She built deep relationships with those people in her inner circle. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or special event. Her memory, like her kindness, was a steel trap.

Regardless of what was going on, Gloria and Peter always took time out for their summer vacations in Cape Cod. These vacations were small in scope to start, but eventually included six children, spouses, grandchildren and great grandson. They built a “circle” of friends in South Yarmouth, MA with Seaview Beach as their home away from home. Gloria loved movies, particularly musicals and films from the 1950s. “The Sound of Music” and “An Affair to Remember” were among her favorite films and she had a particular soft spot for actors Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Peter was jealous. “Her” kitchen was always filled with music. Favorites of hers include Lionel Richie, Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand and Whitney Houston. She liked word games and card games. It would be hard pressed to find a person who could beat her at Words With Friends or Rummy. Gloria, along with her husband, were also avid Boston sports fans never missing the Patriots, Red Sox or Bruins. 

Gloria and Peter loved their pets, especially beloved cockapoos, Heidi and Buffy. Gloria’s latest companion was her British Shorthair, Dame Julie Andrews, who faithfully ate Special K cereal with her in the morning and sat with her evening after evening watching movies.

Gloria was the wife of the late Peter H. Pilkington Jr. and is survived by six children and their spouses: Gloria and Richard Bousquet of Mattapoisett, Peter and  Carol Pilkington of East Bridgewater, Paul Pilkington of Dorchester, Patrick Pilkington and Norma Delaney of Lynnfield, Mary and Bob Cowgill of Middleborough, and John and Tyler Pilkington-Sperry of Framingham; nine grandchildren: Lauren Legault of Middletown, RI, Jacqueline Bousquet of Mattapoisett, Christopher Pilkington of Whitman, Bryan Pilkington of New Bedford, Kathryn and Allison Cowgill of Middleborough, Emily Cowgill of Lawrence, and Callie and Grace Pilkington of Lynnfield; one great grandchild: Lucas Legault of Middletown, RI; sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Bud Dunsing of South Yarmouth and sister Joanne Dombrosky of Brockton; many nieces and nephews and special neighbors Shelly and Dana Stephen. She was predeceased by brother and sister-in-law Louis and Joan Croker, sister and brother-in-law Betty and Donald Crowley and brother-in-law Gregory Dombrosky.  

All are welcome to calling hours Tues., Oct. 17th from 4-7 p.m. at Waitt Funeral Home, 850 N. Main St., Brockton, funeral from Waitt Funeral Home on Wed., Oct. 18th at 9:30 a.m., funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Edith Stein Church, 71 E. Main St., Brockton. Burial to follow at Melrose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, ATTN: Financial Operations, 733 Third Avenue, Ste. 510, New York, NY 10017 or Animal Protection Center of SE Mass. 1300 West Elm St. Ext. Brockton MA 02301

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