Gloria P. (Zarba) Clapp, 92, of Rutland, MA, formerly of Westborough, MA, died peacefully at home on January 3, 2019. Born and raised in Marlborough, Gloria was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Carmela (Ferro) Zarba and the wife of the late Roger Clapp, who died on June 30, 2016 after 62 years of a devoted marriage.
Although being a wife and mother was her principal occupation, Gloria worked as a waitress for many years at Bergsons's 1790 House in Westborough, MA. When she retired from Bergsons's she was presented with a surprise party to honor her long service to the restaurant. Earlier in her life, after graduating from Marlborough High School, Gloria worked at the Zarba family apple orchard and turkey farm on Pleasant St. in Marlborough. This family business provided her with stories and memories of "The Zarba Girls'' that have been told throughout the years.
Gloria was a longtime resident of Westborough MA, having lived there for over 50 years and where she was a member of the Westborough Grange. In her later years, Gloria and her late husband, Roger, made their home in Rutland, MA under the loving care of her daughter, Valerie, and husband, Maurice.
Gloria had many hobbies and interests including gardening, sewing, and knitting. Being very proud of her Italian heritage, she took pleasure in collecting Sicilian donkey figurines and was constantly making Pizelles as a gift for people who had done her a favor; this included teaching people how to make the cookies they so often had the opportunity to enjoy.
She is survived by her three loving children and their families: Rebecca Deignan and her husband Frank of Poinciana, FL; Valerie Guarini and her husband Maurice of Rutland, MA; and Roger Clapp and his wife Cathryn of Paxton, MA; as well as her grandchildren: Lisa Gatsogiannis and her husband Gregory, Anthony Guarini and his wife Racine, Caitlin Clapp and her husband Jordan Rosario, Roger Clapp and Lauren Clapp and her great grandchild: Miles Rosario, who all provided her with love, laughter and many happy memories.
She is also survived by her sister: Viola Wellen of Bradford, MA and many niece and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Anthony Zarba, Lillian Jackson, Albina Mariano and Josephine Laptewicz.
Visiting hrs. will be held on Wednesday, January 9, 2018 from 4-7 pm at the Slattery Funeral Home, Inc., 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough, MA, A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, January 10, at 10:30 am at St. Anne Catholic Church, 20 Boston Rd., Southborough, MA. Burial will follow at Rural Cemetery, Southborough, MA.
Donations may be made to; VNA Hospice and Palliative Care Fund Development, 199 Rosewood Dr., Unit 180, Danvers, MA 01923

Visitation

January 09, 2019
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

SLATTERY FUNERAL HOME, INC 40 PLEASANT ST.
MARLBOROUGH, MA

Funeral Mass

January 10, 2019
10:30 AM

St. Anne Church Boston Road
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA

Burial

Thursday January 10 2019

RURAL CEMETERY 11 CORDAVILLE ROAD RTE. 85
Southborough, MA