Gladys T. Feldman

Gladys Theresa DeFazio Feldman, a long-time resident of Wayne County and Canaan Township, died peacefully at her home in Waymart on Sunday afternoon, December 5, 2021, surrounded by a loving family. Gladys, daughter of Frank E. DeFazio and Gladys E. Derr DeFazio is survived by her husband of 63 years, Harry. Gladys was born January 29, 1940 in Archbald, Pennsylvania. Due to her father’s mining accident, the family relocated to a small farm off Bear Swamp Road in Cherry Ridge. It was there that she attended Rickard’s School with her five siblings and cherished her lifelong friendships from those days. Prior to Gladys’ 1957 Honesdale H.S. graduation, she worked part-time as a checker at Honesdale’s newly opened Acme Market. It was there that Gladys met her future husband, Harry, who also worked a part-time job as a bagger. In February 1958, Harry joined the Marines and was stationed at El Toro, Santa Ana, CA. In late October 1958, Harry came home on leave and was met by Gladys at The Scranton Bus Depot. It was on the way home to Cherry Ridge that the already engaged couple decided to marry and were wed on November 1, 1958. After a two-week honeymoon, Harry reported back to California and Gladys remained in Pennsylvania until Harry returned for her in the spring of 1959, at which time they drove cross country to California. Years later, after raising three children, Gladys returned to school at the Mercedian School of Practical Nursing, Scranton, PA. earning her diploma in 1979. Gladys was employed as an LPN at St. Joseph’s/Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale for 22 years. Gladys is survived by three children: Elizabeth A. Derrick and husband, Ronald, Waymart; Daniel F. Feldman and wife, Seowyean, Waymart; Lorene A. Feldman, Honesdale; and by grandchildren Daniel Feldman and wife Kachiri, Carbondale; Michael Contorno, Fort Myers, FL.; Matthew Feldman and wife, Jamiela, Waymart; Jason Hunter, Damascus; Christopher Derrick and wife Raquelle, Hurley, NY; Andrea Koch and partner Brielle Gall, Philadelphia; Lindsey Koch and Sarah Koch of Honesdale; thirteen great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild. Gladys was predeceased by two brothers, Frank E. DeFazio and Ralph R. DeFazio, and survived by siblings James DeFazio and wife Doris, Madisonville, PA; Janice Mistishin and husband, John, Waymart; Darlene Harding and husband, Albert, Stockholm, NJ; foster brothers Peter Nelli, Watertown, NY; Gilbert Mulrooney and partner Sam Babbish, Largo, FL and Jeff Gamble and wife Jocel, Clifford, PA. A public viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8 at Jenkins-Howell Funeral Home, Inc. Edward R. Howell, Funeral Director, 269 Belmont Street Waymart, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Church, 242 Carbondale Road, Waymart, PA at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 9. Everyone attending is asked to go directly to the church. Interment will follow at Canaan Corners Cemetery, Waymart. The family wishes to acknowledge the Cottage Hose Company who responded on numerous occasions and caregivers Chelsie Patterson, Maria Swendsen, Melanie Deighton and Dawn Kellam, who served Gladys so well during this trying period. Additionally, the family is forever grateful for the incredible and caring work of the Wayne Memorial Hospice team which included RN’s, Karon Shaffer and Ginny Fries, and hospice aids Margaret McDonald, Jessica Tuttle, Amanda Schaffer and Samantha Mignery, pastor Bill Rushik and social worker Anna Walsh.