Mary E. Gruber (nee Vallauri)
On March 10, 2016, of Washington Twp. Age 85. Beloved wife of the late Sidney. Devoted mother of Sandra. Dear sister of Rudy, Gene and John Valluri. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Remembering my mom, Mary E Gruber who passed from this life into life eternal on Thursday,
March 10, 2016. She was born at home in Pleasantville, New Jersey to Louis and Edith Vallauri on September 7, 1930. She was their second child and the only daughter. She had four brothers. She graduated from Pleasantville High School in June, 1950. She worked as an office girl for the Frailinger Salt Water Factory from 1950 to 1952.
Mom started her singing lessons as a teenager and she was going into light opera when she married my dad, Sidney Gruber. She dedicated her voice to the Lord and was known to sing 10 – 12 solos on any given Sunday around South and Central Jersey. She sang on radio on a regular basis. She also sang with a five piece band at USO dances at the Atlantic City Naval Air Station. She met my dad at one of these dances. He enjoyed hearing her sing so much that he even went to church to hear her sing. Mom and Dad dated while he was still stationed there in Pomona. He was transferred to Jacksonville, Florida in the summer of 1952. Mom went on vacation with her girlfriend to Jacksonville in October, 1952. There my dad proposed marriage and she accepted. They were married in Pleasantville on Christmas day of 1952. They lived in Jacksonville from 1953 to 1957. I was born in Jacksonville during that time. Mom immediately joined the choir at Lakeshore Methodist church, where she sang many solos. She also sang on television down there. My dad was moved around heavily in the late 50’s. Wherever dad was stationed, mom would be asked to sing at any of the churches they attended. When we moved back to Florida in 1960, she got a Hammond organ. She took 6 lessons, but afterwards she taught herself to play. After twenty-two years dad retired from the Navy and we moved back to New Jersey.
Our family moved to Washington Township, New Jersey on June 11, 1971. In the 1980’s mom took up the accordion. She always wanted to play it as a child but her parents felt that it was an instrument for the boys. She was able to play classical music on the accordion as well as hymns and popular music. Mom and I sang duets together in church. She would accompany us with the accordion. We travelled all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania with the accordion. She got a concert organ in the late 90’s and she always enjoyed playing the organ at home. She played the organ for Chapel Heights United Methodist Church in the 1990’s. We started at Plainville United Methodist Church in 1996 and in 2003 she became the organist for the church. She continued playing for the church until her death.
Mom loved music, traveling, gardening, reading, and needlework. Most importantly she loved the Lord with all her heart and soul. To her the Lord was everything and she felt that she could not do enough for him while she was on this earth. I know that she has rejoined my dad and grandparents as well as many of our friends in heaven and that she is enjoying singing God’s praises.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing Thursday 9:00 – 11:00 AM at the Egizi Funeral Home, 119 Ganttown Road, Washington Twp. Funeral Service 11:00 AM. Interment, Plainville United Methodist Cemetery, Franklinville.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.egizifuneral.com.
“A Life Well Lived
Is Worth Remembering”