Dr. Gloria G. Dycoco Obituary (1938 - 2021)

Dr. Gloria G. Dycoco, 82, of Pana passed away Saturday, April 24, 2021 in Pana Community Hospital. She was born August 30, 1938 in Manila, Philippines, daughter of the late Miguel & Cristina (Capalungan) Grafilo. Gloria was raised & educated in the Philippines, coming to America to continue her education. She was a graduate of the Far Eastern University Institution of Medicine in the Philippines in 1962. While at the university, Gloria served as the Secretary of the Medical Student Council for three years. In those days, women didn't become president, but she served as the president of the Student Catholic Action. She also played the piano for the university church choir. Dr. Gloria did her internal medicine residency at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ and her hematology residency at St. Michael's Hospital in Newark, NJ, where she met the love of her life, Dr. Virgilio Dycoco. They were married on March 27, 1970 in St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral in Newark, NJ. He preceded her in death on December 27, 2018. Dr. Gloria came to Pana in 1973, serving in general practice to the Pana community until her retirement in 2020. She was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Pana; Illinois State Medical Society; American Medical Association; past president of Central Illinois Philippine American Society & Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois. Dr. Gloria was a very established pianist and it was always her first love. She was also a very talented artist and enjoyed knitting, reading, crossword puzzles and watching trivia type game shows. Dr. Gloria is survived by her children: Jun-Jun (Shawn) Dycoco, Springfield, IL; Maria (Tim Kamer) Dycoco, Overland Park, KS & Melissa (Rob) Scheffer, Mattoon, IL; grandchildren: Leo, Isabella & Luka Kamer and Cole Scheffer; and siblings: Aurora Grafilo, Antonio Grafilo, Adolfo Grafilo, Benjamin Grafilo, Jose Grafilo & Cristino Grafilo. She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Miguel Grafilo, Maria Elena Grafilo, Angel Grafilo, Manuel Grafilo & Alberto Grafilo. Memorial mass will be held on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Pana with Rev. Rodney A. Schwartz officiating. Cremation rites will then be accorded and private family inurnment will take place at a later date in Calvary Cemetery, Pana. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the church. Memorials in Dr. Gloria's honor may be made to Pana Community Hospital Foundation and will be accepted by McCracken-Dean Funeral Home who is assisting the family.