There are lives that move quietly through the world, shaping it not with noise, but with grace. Glory Dalere was one of those rare souls—steady, compassionate, and endlessly giving.
She was born on November 15, 1933, in the Philippines, where her story began in the warmth of family and the strength of humble beginnings. In 1956, she crossed an ocean to the United States, carrying with her courage, hope, and the belief that a new life could be built with her own hands. That same year, she married Santiago Dalere, a gentle man who worked at the Fairmont Hotel. Their marriage in Reno was the start of a lifelong partnership rooted in devotion and quiet resilience.
In 1960, Glory earned her cosmetology license from Marinello’s School of Beauty in Union Square—a craft that would become her calling. She and Santiago lived in the Haight‑Ashbury District, where they welcomed their first son. But their dreams were larger than their apartment walls. A real estate agent led them to Glen Park, where the shops were close, the schools welcoming, and the garden wide and generous.
For Santiago, who had worked in the Central Valley in his early years, that garden was a return to the soil—a place to grow fruits and vegetables, to nurture life with his hands.
In this new neighborhood, Glory found her purpose. She rented a small storefront on Diamond Street from the Hayes family and opened Dalere’s Beauty Salon—a business that would become the longest‑running woman‑owned establishment in Glen Park, founded on October 6, 1968. What began as a salon became a sanctuary. Women came not only for beehives, French twists, and bouffants, but for comfort, conversation, and the warmth of Glory’s presence.
When uncertainty clouded the future of her rental space, fate offered a path. Santiago noticed a man placing a “For Sale” sign on a building on Chenery Street. The owner, Mr. Williams, agreed to sell the property to Glory on one condition: that she visit his home weekly to shampoo and style the hair of his elderly, homebound wife. Glory agreed without hesitation. With a simple handshake, the deal was sealed in 1975, and 660 Chenery Street became the permanent home of her beloved salon.
Glory’s work extended far beyond her shop’s doors. She visited clients who were sick or homebound, bringing dignity and care into their living rooms. She volunteered with Look Good Feel Better, styling wigs for women undergoing cancer treatment—restoring confidence where illness had taken so much. Her hands were steady, gentle, and full of compassion.
In 1981, she enrolled her daughter Marian in the same beauty school she had attended decades earlier, passing down not just a skill, but a legacy of service.
Glory Dalere and her daughter Marian
As the years unfolded, Glory cared for her aging husband until his passing in 2006 at the remarkable age of 100. She opened her home to her two older sisters, tending to them with the same devotion she offered her clients. And in 2012, when the Cheese Boutique faced eviction, she offered them space—another act of quiet generosity that strengthened her community.
For more than fifty years, Glory shaped not only hairstyles, but hearts. Her salon was a place where people felt seen, valued, and uplifted. Her life was a tapestry of kindness—woven from early mornings, gentle hands, shared stories, and the belief that caring for others is a form of beauty all its own.
Her legacy lives on in the neighborhood she helped anchor, in the family she cherished, and in the countless lives she touched—one haircut, one conversation, one act of compassion at a time.
Glory Dalere passed away June 21, 2026 with family by her side.
Glory is survived by her children Santos (Maureen), David, and Marian (Robert), and her granddaughter Marie, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.