Gladys Melendez

Gladys DeJesus Melendez, 76 years of age, passed on Monday June 1, 2020 with her loved ones being able to say goodbye at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, N.Y. Gladys was born on February 8, 1944 in Cayey, Puerto Rico to the late Don Marcial and Maria Claudio DeJesus. She was the oldest of seven children; five preceded her in death, Marcial, Dimas, Luis, Sara, and Lidia. She is survived by her youngest brother Reynaldo. Gladys was educated in the public school system in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Gladys married and two children were born from this union. Gladys moved from Puerto Rico and settled into married life in New York City in 1965. She was Roman Catholic and instilled a catholic upbringing in her sons. She was a seamstress by profession specializing in leatherwork. She sewed for Macys, Bloomingdales, and Saks Fifth Avenue among many others. Gladys loved to be a mother. Almost all of her professional work was done at home in order to be there for her children. She was a loving and caring person, devoted mother and friend always thinking of others first. She was an extremely strong individual having been in a coma for 30 days and coming out triumphant. This “tough as nails” attitude allowed her to survive many of life’s obstacles with grace and gave her a deep appreciation for life. In her later years her love and adoration were her two grandchildren Ally and Sam. The joy they brought her had no equivalence she would say. She will be forever loved and cherished by those of us she left behind. Gladys is survived by her two sons Wilfred and Richard Melendez, her daughters in law Odenia Melendez and Lee Kaplan, grandchildren Alexandra Melendez age 17, Richard Decker age 24 and Samuel Melendez age 3.