Perez, Gladys

ALBANY- Gladys Perez, 73, passed away on December 22, 2022 at Albany Medical after suffering an illness on November 5, 2022. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by her passing. She was born on October 16, 1949.

Gladys is survived and missed by her 7 children, Virginia, Jessica, Fausto (Jimmy), Jose (Papito), Madeline, Michelle, and Carlos. She is Forever cherished and remembered by her many grandchildren, Ashley, Fausto, Celena, Bryana, Alexandria (Allie), Christian (Ty), Angelo, Jose (Bebi), Josue, Leslie, Karla, Emely, Catherine, Nikeysha, Melanie, Carlos, and Jose Jr.and all her great-grandchildren. Siblings and families: Jose (Pito), Lynn, Nancy, Eneida (Penny), Estrella, Virginia (Vicky), Bibi, Ramiro.

Gladyswas predeceased by her parents Virginia and Andres, her siblings Natividad (Natty), Johnny, Robert, Andres (Peanut) and William (Willie).

She was born in Brox, New York, where she would get into trouble with her brothers. She moved and began her family in Puerto Rico and eventually settled in Upstate New York. Her greatest joy came from her family. She created many memories while enjoying trips as a family to Puerto Rico, Florida, and California. She would frequently visit Puerto Rico staying with Madaline, Chicky, Michelle, Cucci and her grandchildren and making up for lost time. She loved hanging out and shopping with her best friend Pito, who she adored.

Gladys had an unquenchable thirst for life, she always lived her life to the fullest and her family had trouble keeping up with her and accepted the fact that the word “NO” was not in her vocabulary. Her memory lives on when the family recounts all her funny and sometimes crazy stories. Lynn, Allie, and Virginia often say she’d be the first person they’d want to call because she’d always be there to listen, cut you off to offer additional commentary, make you laugh and then hang-up.

She took an active role in the lives of her family. Up until the day she fell ill she was playing on the floor with her Ritty (Angelo) crawling into his tent. She would seize any opportunity presented from singing at Church (The Pentecostal Church of Unity and Prayer), going to Yankee games, Latin Dances, traveling, and she never turned down an occasion to play Bingo.

Gladys had a great heart and was always helping others. She loved volunteering at the pantry with Linda. She would help anyone in need donating time, clothes, money, and cooking Spanish food. Later in life she truly found God and the Church, it was this faith that helped her when she was first diagnosed with cancer and helped her through treatment. She was a firm believer that God was the reason she became cancer-free.

Her legacy will carry on forever, reminding us to Live and Love life, to have faith in the lord and that we can always find happiness regardless of the hardships or obstacles that are thrown our way. She chose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service.

There are no words that can express how grateful and blessed we are to everyone that has been here through these difficult two months. Also, a heartfelt thank you to Fausto for always being by her bedside, Nancy, Lynn, Linda, April, and Jen for helping us navigate through this loss and our Church Family, they were always visiting and praying for Gladys.

Nos dejastes una herida profundo en nuestro corazon, our Mom, Grandma, Friend, Sister, and Aunt.

Services will be held Friday, January 6, 2023 from 1-2 pm at the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, Inc. In lieu of flowers, the family requests spending time with your loved ones in her memory.