Gloria A. (Merritt) Pollard, 73, of 5 Caroline Avenue, died Saturday April 19, 2008 in the Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers, following her long illness.

Born in New York City November 9, 1934, she was the daughter of Alice (Waller) Merritt of Florida and the late Leland Merritt. She was raised in New York and was a graduate of New York City public schools. For many years she lived on Staten Island, later living in Morris County, NJ. She was employed as a dietary supervisor at the Dover, NJ General Hospital from which she retired. She has lived in Ipswich since 1995.

She had a fascination with coastal lighthouses, and was always happy to share stories of her many lighthouse visits. She was a member of the N.J. Lighthouse Society, the Friends of Plum Island, the U.S. Lighthouse Society Chesapeake Chapter, the Ipswich VFW Post #1093 Auxillary and an active and dedicated member of the First Church in Ipswich.

She is survived by a son, David Whalen of Coal Tar Township, PA; two grandchildren, William and Robert Whalen; two sisters, Barbara Sawler of N. Palm Beach, FL and Elsie Ciardiello of Hallindale, FL and several nephews and nieces. She was the sister of the late Frederick Merritt formerly of Staten Island, NY. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to the First Church Memorial Fund, Meeting House Green Ipswich, MA 01938 and, or, the Hospice of the North Shore, Kaplan House, c/o 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923.

Private funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich.