About Gloria
Gloria S. Oren was born and given her adoptive
name Gloria Oxenhorn. She was adopted at birth
by a loving couple and grew up a an only child.
Gloria's third grade teacher recognized her
academic abilities and suggested that her parents
remove her from the public school system and find an
appropriate private school setting where she could flourish. Gloria's parents transfered her to a Chabad run
all girls' school which was conveniently located next door to their store.
Though Gloria came from a conservative Jewish lifestyle, she soon adapted to the more orthodox environment of her new school, The Beth Rivkah School for Girls. She remained at this school through ninth grade.
Gloria lost the only daddy she'd ever know on her eleventh birthday. Her mommy took over running the business and Gloria joined the ranks of latch-key children, returning home from school to an empty apartment. She soon spent more afternoons at the homes of classmates and became "one of the family" at each one.
In 1970 Gloria moved to Israel with her mommy. After a short period at the American School in Kfar Silver, near Ashkelon, didn't work out Gloria transfered to an elite Israeli high school where she was placed in the eleventh grade. Not knowing the language and skipping a whole grade this was a huge challenge for her. Having to redo this grade an additional year, Gloria did graduate from high school with a diploma and knowledge of Hebrew and a bit of French.
Gloria met her husband in Israel where they married just two months after her mommy passed away. Gloria was 23. Her two sons were born in Israel. Not knowing she was pregnant, the family moved to the U.S. and settled in Washington, where seven months later their daughter was born.
In 1996 Gloria was found by her birthmother's cousin's husband. That summer Gloria met her for the first time. She also met her grandmother, half-sister and half-brother, aunts uncles and cousins. With information her birthmother passed on to her she was able to locate her paternal half-siblings and her birthfather's second wife, who with few exceptions, accepted her into their family. Gloria's birthfather passed away in 1988.
For those who would like to know even more about Gloria, follow this link to her 100 Things About Me list.
