Gloria Kirchner Ozimek started her own real-estate business after retiring from a career working in the Guilderland schools and for Albany County.

After an arduous 12-year battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she died on Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Port Charlotte, Florida, where she had lived. She was 78.

She was born in 1945 to Mildred and Stuart Kirchner of Albany.

Her career began when she worked as an office secretary at Guilderland Elementary School. She went on to become the librarian at Farnsworth Middle School, her family wrote in a tribute.

“Later, Gloria worked for the Albany County executive; she went on to become office manager for the Albany County Mental Health Department,” the tribute said. “Upon her retirement, Gloria enriched her career by starting her own real estate company, Ozimek Realty, Ltd., which serviced much of the Hilltowns of Albany County.

“She truly enjoyed real estate for nearly 30 years. Gloria had many dear friends in the town and hamlets of Guilderland, New Scotland, Westerlo, Berne, and Greenville.

“Moving to Florida in 2004, she and her family began a new lifestyle. Having to stay busy, she became a paraprofessional within the Charlotte County School System, working with children with special needs in the pre-kindergarten setting for several years. The children knew her as Miss Gloria, and they adopted her as a working grandmother.

“Gloria was a true animal lover and never met one that she didn’t want to take home. Her favorites were her three dogs, Schatze, Ebba, and Jellybean. Gloria was also a travel and cruise lover. She was a communicant of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte.”

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Gloria Kirchner Ozimek is survived by her son, Eric Lane and his wife, Tiffany; her grandchildren, Devon Spradling and her husband, Landyn, Dylan Lane, and Mckenzie Lane; and her great-granddaughter, Dani Spradling. She is also survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Tom. 

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, 2151 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte, FL 33948.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southeastern Guide Dogs, 4210 77th Street E. Palmetto, FL 34221 or www.guidedogs.org.

“The family extends their heartfelt thanks for her care from the Florida Cancer Specialists, Dr. Vance Wright-Browne and her staff,” the tribute said. “A special thank-you is sent to the entire nursing and administrative staff of Tidewell Hospice Inc. in Charlotte County.”