Gladys Patience Gordon

Gladys Patience Gordon, age 97, of Waterbury Connecticut passed away on October 15th, 2025, at the Cotter House for Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients, in Worthington, Ohio, where she resided from June 2024 until her death.

She was born on September 24th, 1928, in Ansonia Connecticut, the daughter of Alfonso Smith and Mabel Gooch Smith. She and her older sister Catherine were raised in the blended family of the late Mr. & Mrs. Lucious Walker of Cheshire Connecticut. She attended Humiston Elementary School in Cheshire and Crosby High School Waterbury, Conn. She married George W. Gordon Jr., in Waterbury Connecticut in 1947. They shared ten years of marriage and had one daughter Beverly Mabel Gordon.

Her survivors include her daughter Beverly Gordon and grandson Peter Lewis George Walker Jr., both of Columbus, Ohio; her sister Catherine Darby of New Jersey; her sisters June Lewis of Cheshire, Connecticut, Shirley Pitts of Waterbury, Connecticut, Helen Olive of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mary Lopes of Hamden, Connecticut; and Larry and MaryJo Skiba & family of Naugatuck, Connecticut.

She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews: Donna Smith Days, Richard Smith, Lorrinda Johnson, Gerald Robinson Sr., Janna Beames, Courtney Smith, Charlyse Moses, Amber Farquharson, Gerald Robinson Jr., Matthew Beames, Alana Moses, Jeremiah Moses Jr., Bradley Donahue, Jace Emily Crowther, Tanya (Anthony) Barrett, Crystal Lewis, LaShaya (Patrick) Bennett, Kevin Lewis, Grace Cruz, Michael Lewis, Chelsea Elizabeth Barrett, Talyah Lee Lewis, Tianna Barrett, Richard Lopes, Zola Bennett, Xena Bennett, Naomi Pitts, Theodore Pitts, Paul Pitts, and Mikaeel Lewis, along with a host of relatives, friends and acquaintances.

She was preceded in death by her mother Mabel Gooch Hines, her father Alfonso Smith, her brothers Alfonso Lloyd Smith, Walter Smith, Donald Kobina, and Herschel Gaines, her sisters, Lucille Sewell and Mildred Gatling, her niece, Dorrine Smith Flynn, her nephews Ronald Smith, Mitchell Robinson Ocasio and Clarence Gatling, and her former husband, George W. Gordon Jr.

Gladys endured long and arduous hours, working two jobs for the better part of her life. Although employed at her day job for over four decades with the Coyne Uniform & Textile Service the work that gave her the most joy and satisfaction was her part-time evening job as a nurse’s aide at Waterbury Hospital where she worked for over 35 years. In retirement, she worked as a beloved product demonstrator at Costco Wholesale, where customers affectionately knew her as ‘Ms. Glad’. Her engaging spirit, distinctive hats and generosity made her recognized and cherished figure throughout the community.

Gladys was a member of the Order of The Eastern Stars chapter in Waterbury Conn. She loved to travel and over the years, enjoyed many cruises through the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Alaska.

While Gladys enjoyed shopping most of all, she also loved animals and had many pets throughout her life. She enjoyed classical jazz music, reading novels, and always took pleasure in family gatherings. In her later years, she particularly enjoyed listening to religious services on television, and weekly visits for lunch and Bingo at the Waterbury Senior Center.

The family of Gladys Gordon appreciates your kind expressions of sympathy, love, and friendship. Thank you for all your condolences and prayers. We invite you to join us for the memorial funeral service for Gladys P. Gordon on Saturday November 15, 2025, at Colonial Funeral Home 270 W. Main St., Waterbury, Conn. Viewing and Fellowship will begin at 10:00am, followed by the service at 11am. Bishop Willie L. Days III will preside.