Gloria Willoughby Niles was born on July 2, 1940 in the city of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. She is the youngest of eight children born to Edward and Zulika Willoughby, now deceased. Gloria attended the Melville Memorial Girls school and the Progressive Educational Institute in Port of Spain. She married Ansyl Niles in 1961 and together they had five children. In 1970 she and Ansyl immigrated to the United States. They along with their five children eventually settled in Boston MA.

Soon after settling in Boston Gloria began working at Massachusetts General Hospital eventually training to be a Phlebotomist. She continued her career as a Phlebotomist specializing in working with cancer patients. Her professionalism and her devotion to her craft earned her several awards in recognition of her commitment to her patients. She remained at Mass General for over 40 years serving patients until her retirement in 2010.

She joined the Parish of All Saints Ashmont in Dorchester and remained a faithful member of the congregation serving in various roles. She was an usher and was on the original hospitality committee of the church. She raised funds for the church by organizing bus trips. She sang in the summer choir. She worked as a member of the altar guild, was a reader and served on the Vestry. She was also a senior warden for the church. After retirement she had more time to focus on her volunteer activities. She volunteered at the Epiphany School and continued her volunteer actives at the Pine Street Inn, The Greater Boston Food Bank and with veterans.

Gloria was a devoted mother and is survived by her five children Lana Niles, Donna Niles, Andy Niles, Sharon Niles and CherylAnn Matthews, her sisters Beryl “Gertrude” Richardson and Scarlet Williams, her step brother Junior Alexander, her nephews Derek Willoughby and Lionel Worrell and her nieces Cleona “Suzy” Scope and Ann Brumfield. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren Sharifah Niles Lane, Francis Niles, Taren Niles, Randall Matthews, Deaniah Malcolm, Deja Niles, Alfred Ansel Spencer, Taylor Matthews, Alexander Spencer, Aaron Spencer and Christopher Matthews, sons-in-law Roger “Butch” Matthews, and Dean “Leon” Malcolm, grandson-in-law Phillip Lane II, daughter-in-law Maria Eleina Gomez, grandnieces Charlene Willoughby and Dalanei Willoughby as well as five great grandsons and a host of other family and close friends.

Gloria’s family would like to express their sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who have supported them during this most difficult time.  Your prayers and acts of kindness have been a source of support and will remain with them always.

Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street, DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS, Thursday from 4-7 PM. A Funeral Service will be celebrated in The Parish of All Saints, 209 Ashmont Street, Dorchester, Friday November 16 at 10:30 AM.  Relatives and friends invited. Interment Cedar Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Gloria Niles to support cancer research and patient care at: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift