Gloria Fanelli Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Gloria Lucia Del Carlo was born to Louis and Ida Del Carlo on March 4, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois. The Del Carlos had immigrated to the United States form Lucca, Italy. In 1924, Gloria and her parents traveled to Tuscany and Rome to visit with extended family which included her cousins of the Respighi family and the composer, Ottorino Respighi. Gloria began studying the piano when she was five years old. She attended New Trier High School and graduated from Maine Township High School, where she was also a piano accompanist for the vocal department. Gloria entered the Berning Conservatory and School of Music in 1938 and graduated in 1941 with a diploma in Applied Piano Performance with highest honors. In 1941, Gloria met her future husband, George Fanelli, a professional pianist and piano teacher. In April of 1942, they were married in Chicago. Their son, Michael, was born in February 1943. From the 1940's through the 1970's, Gloria was a professional pianist, piano teacher, and vocal coach. George Fanelli continued to play piano professionally until his death in 1988. Michael and his wife, Carla, moved to Cedar Falls in 1987 when Michael joined the faculty of the University of Northern Iowa. Gloria was able to live independently in Chicago until 1995 when her health began to fail. To be closer to her family, she moved to Assisted Living at the Western Home in 1995. She continued to live there until she was moved to the Martin Center in 2004.