Gloria DelValle-Rivera of Buffalo became a cornea donor upon her passing in October 2016. She is remembered as a beautiful soul taken too soon.
“She was a wife, a best friend, a mother, a sister and an excellent grandmother,” recalled Gloria’s daughter Audelis. “She loved to sew and make beautiful things, she loved frogs and had a smile to brighten up the room.”
Gloria’s legacy has continued beyond her death. “Her life will never be in vain, no matter if the days breeze by so fast,” said Audelis. Gloria loved her kids and her grandkids. “She raised us to be strong and to survive.”
Audelis honors her mother’s memory with a tattoo, but said, “That still isn't enough because nothing can truly ease the pain of missing my best friend.”
“My mother was always adamant about donating whatever she could,” said Audelis. “If she ever had the opportunity to share any of herself, she would feel accomplished not only in life but also after she was gone. I never quite understood that but knowing that my mom is still out there, no matter how minor, is a blessing that keeps me pushing even when I want to give up.”