Gloria Ines Suarez

Born in Medellin, Colombia on October 4, 1951

Died in Carrboro, North Carolina on September 30, 2007

Gloria’s ineffable spirit lives on in her beloved son, Juan Arango, her loving family, her friends and colleagues at the Program on Integrative Medicine and throughout the community, and the countless lives she touched through her selfless commitment to the health and well being of others, especially those in need.

Please join us on Monday, November 19 from 12-1 in the NC Children’s Hospital lobby/Butterfly Garden to celebrate Gloria’s life with stories and song.

Gloria Ines Suarez, 55, died in a fire at her home at Highland Hills Apartments in Carrboro on September 30, 2007.

She is survived by her son, Juan Arango, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill; and her siblings in Colombia.

Gloria was born in Medellin, Colombia on October 4, 1951 to Josefina Betancurth and Jose Manuel Suarez. Gloria held a BA from the University of the Valley and an MBA degree from Webster University. She owned a GNC franchise in Las Vegas, and continued to work in management at GNC in Orlando, Greenville, SC, and Chapel Hill. An active member of her faith communities both in Greenville and in Chapel Hill, she had particular interest in mission work with orphans in Mexico and Honduras.

Gloria Suarez came to UNC several years ago to care for her son who was ill, and she tracked down the Program on Integrative Medicine when she was not satisfied with the conventional care or prognosis they were receiving. We all worked together to help her son survive and recover. We helped her get a job as a translator at the hospital, then she volunteered for PIM, and gradually became a paid staff person.

She has been the heart and soul of PIM. Gloria has been the most hardworking and dedicated friend and colleague. Her loss, personally and professionally, is unimaginable.

To make a donation to the Gloria Suarez Family Fund, please send a check to:

Suarez Family Fund
ATTN: Nicole Pratapas
Dept. of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
CB# 7200, UNC School of Medicine
Chapel Hill NC 27599

Please write “Suarez Family Fund” on the memo portion of your check.

Heart Poem