Gladys House

Gladys House passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Lyndonville on Sunday evening in the company of her two recent caregivers.   Gladys was born in Philadelphia PA. In 1913 and lived there for five years before moving to Brooklyn NY after her mother remarried.  She grew up there and went to school until her mother and stepfather moved to Lake Mohegan NY., north of New York City.  She had been studying art at Pratt Institute in New York, and continued to do so even after moving out of the city, commuting by train into the city to continue her studies.  While living in Lake Mohegan she met and married the love of her life, Roland House, who lived in Peekskill NY.  They lived there for a short time after they were married until they moved to Mt. Kisco NY where their daughter Jo Ann was born.  Gladys was a stay at home mom until Roland was drafted in 1943 and sent to Europe after the Invasion.  She then ran his service station until he returned after the War.  She stayed at home until Jo Ann went to college and then went to work for a florist, and then in a jewelry store, utilizing her artistic talents at both jobs.  Later she and Roland traveled to Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaii.  She learned to play golf so he would have company when he played.  Weekends in the summer were spent at their summer camp on Pleasure Lake in the Catskills that they built in the late 40's.  Roland died suddenly in 1980 and she was left to close his station and other businesses he owned, and she continued to live in Mt. Kisco until 1988 when she moved to Lyndonville to be near Jo Ann and her husband, when they decided to retire in Vermont.  A lifetime animal lover, Gladys moved to her village home with 2 cats and a dog. A succession of small dogs, and cats followed and people remarked about this little old lady walking her dog in the park in her 90's.  She became an active member of the First Congregational Church in Lyndonville constantly volunteering and becoming a deacon.  At this time she discovered rug hooking and was very good at it, creating many large intricate rugs for family and friends.  She loved nurturing plants on her windowsill plant hospital, never throwing any away.  She was a terrific cook whose cheesecakes were famous.  She continued to be active and self sufficient, living alone until just shortly before her death.  An only child, Gladys is survived by her daughter, Jo Ann Clausing and son in law, Jan, in Newark VT. A granddaughter, Gretjen, and husband Philippe of Philadelphia. As per Gladys' request there will be no services at this time, and the family will be celebrating her life privately in a graveside ceremony at her husband's family plot in Peekskill, NY. in the Spring.  The family would appreciate that in lieu of flowers, donations in Gladys' name should be made to Riverside Animal Rescue riversideanimalrescue.org, Elizabeth Brown Humane Society animalshelter.org, and Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Society frontieranimalsociety.com. Online memories and condolences may be shared at www.saylesfh.com.