February 11, 2001
A Message from Heaven
to my still grieving family and friends
"I've found a place where I can be free;
I've found a whole new beginning just made for me.
I know only peace and I never feel pain;
Days are full of sunshine and never the rain.
I'm no longer old, I've recovered my youth;
And all of my dreams have become my truth.
I can smile. I can laugh. I can walk. I can run;
I can hear every whisper. I can see past the sun.
My body is whole and my mind is clear;
I know all the answers and I'm free from all fear.
I know why you mourn me. I see how you weep;
Your heart is full of aching from a love that is deep.
And I'm grateful for loved ones that hold me so dear;
But remember, I've found a better place here.
I will be beside you always nearby;
So don't mourn me too long nor forever cry.
And whenever your sorrow bears down on your heart,
Think not of my ending but of my new start.
For on earth there's no joy that I'd ever see,
To compare with the joy of God smiling at me." |
| |
| - Gloria F. Cuneo |
The New York Times
February 14, 2001
The Catholic Traditionalist Movement (CTM) mourns the passing into Heaven of it's co-founder and, for the past thirty-seven years, General Secretary. While traditionalist Catholics the world over will gratefully remember her behind-the-scenes self-effacing dignity and grace that made the traditional Roman Catholic Mass in Latin available to them via weekly shortwave radio and daily internet, she will be even more deeply missed at the CTM headquarters' Ave Maria Chapel in Westbury, Long Island, where her loving and caring ways in so many different capacities made her the community's leading traditionalist lay person, especially endearing herself to the children of two generations. With lasting gratitude, I will personally offer the Latin Roman Catholic Requiem Funeral Mass for her at our Ave Maria Chapel, 210 Maple Ave, Westbury, Long Island, NY at 10AM this Thursday.
Rev. Dr. Gommar A. De Pauw
Founder-President
Catholic Traditionalist Movement
The Westbury Times
February 22, 2001
Gloria Cuneo, Leading Catholic Traditionalist, Dies
Gloria Britting Cuneo, one of the co-founders of the Catholic Traditionalist Movement (CTM) in 1964, and for the past 37 years its general secretary, died on Feb. 11.
Tradtionalist Catholics the world over will gratefully remember her behind-the-scenes self-effacing dignity and grace in their efforts for the preservation of the traditional Roman Catholic Mass in Latin, made available to them via weekly short-wave radio and daily internet.
At the CTM Headquarters' Ave Maria Chapel in Westbury, Long Island, Mrs. Cuneo was the leading lay person since its opening in 1968, holding such various positions as sacristan, organist, choir director, principal religion teacher, and coordinator of the CTM-Ladies' social program.
Before her activities with the CTM, Mrs. Cuneo, a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, was a teacher in both the public and parochial schools of New York City.
Cuneo is survived by her husband John, a Fordham and Columbia Universities trained hospital administrator, currently with the Brooklyn Veterans' Hospital, and her son Richard, a Hofstra University graduate, currently with American Airlines at J.F. Kennedy Airport.
The traditional Latin Roman Catholic Requiem funeral Mass was offered by Father Gommar A. De Pauw, J.C.D., founder-president of the CTM, last Thursday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m., at the Ave Maria Chapel, 210 Maple Avenue, Westbury. Interment followed at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
NEWSDAY
March 2, 2001
OBITUARIES
Gloria Cuneo, 70, Catholic Mass Traditionalist
by Samson Mulugeta, Staff Writer
Gloria Britting Cuneo of Westbury, one of the co-founders of the Catholic Traditionalist Movement, which advocates the return of Catholicism as it was practiced before Vatican II, died of cancer Feb. 11 at Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills, Queens. She was 70.
For nearly 40 years, Cuneo worked to reverse the edicts of the 1962-63* Vatican II, which, among other things, allowed the use of local languages in Catholic churches instead of Latin. She served as general secretary of the Catholic Traditionalist Movement, which was founded in 1964 by the Rev. Gommar A. De Pauw, pastor of the Ave Maria Chapel in Westbury, which has been the movement's headquarters since 1968.
"She was one of those pillars of the community," said De Pauw, who had known Cuneo since she was in high school. He said she had come to believe with him that the changes instituted by Vatican II were wrong. "If we followed the traditions of the Catholic Church for 1,900 years, why are they suddenly found to be unacceptable?" De Pauw, 82, said.
A traditional Mass in Latin is celebrated at the Ave Maria Chapel every Sunday, and 300 to 500 people attend, De Pauw said.**
Joanne Navarro, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, said the Catholic Traditionalist Movement was not affiliated with the diocese. "They are not considered to be part of the diocese," she said.
The movement spreads its message through a Web site. The group broadcasts Latin Masses on short-wave radio to what it says is an international audience.
Cuneo had been the leading layperson advancing the movement's goals for nearly four decades, De Pauw said. At the Ave Maria Chapel through the years, Cuneo held such positions as sacristan, organist, choir director, principal religion teacher and coordinator of the CTM-Ladies social programs.
Cuneo was born and raised in the Morris Park section of the Bronx. She was a graduate of Mount Saint Ursula High School and the College of New Rochelle.
Although raised in the Yankees' backyard, Cuneo was a passionate Mets fan.
In politics, she admired former President Ronald Reagan despite her upbringing in the Democratic stronghold of the Bronx.
Cuneo is survived by her husband, John Cuneo, and son, Richard, both of Westbury.
Cuneo's family and friends celebrated a traditional Latin requiem Mass at the Ave Maria Chapel on Feb. 15. The Mass was followed by burial at Pinelawn Memorial Park.
| * |
Correction: |
Gloria Cuneo worked to reverse the edicts of the 1962 - 1965 Vatican II. |
| ** |
Correction: |
The traditional Mass in Latin is celebrated at the Ave Maria Chapel twice each Sunday with an attendance of 200 - 300 people. |
