Gladys I. Bahr Spence

Gladys Irene Spence, a longtime resident of Scotch Plains, NJ, passed away peacefully on July 3, 2015 at the age of 92 in Bethlehem, PA. Gladys was born in New York City on October 27, 1922 to Anna and Harry Bahr. Gladys grew up in the Crestwood section of Yonkers and especially enjoyed times with her siblings Evelyn (Nichols), Virginia and Henry, as well as her cousins, aunts and uncles on Echo Lake in Boonville, NY. Gladys attended Roosevelt High School, graduated from Centenary Junior College and completed her BA Education degree at Kean College.

Gladys was predeceased by her devoted husband Sydney P Spence in 2004. The couple married on May 27, 1944 at Asbury Methodist Church (Crestwood) and honeymooned in Atlantic City before Sydney began his US Navy service in the Pacific Theatre. The family moved to New Jersey, living in Caldwell and later, Scotch Plains with regular summer-time visits to Moultonborough, NH.

Gladys will be sorely missed by her children Nancy (Robert) Breon, Jeffrey (Adora) Spence, Janet (Richard) DeVeau, Kim (E. Marc) Honig and Susan (Samuel) Garcia; her grandchildren Elizabeth, Christopher, Michelle, Anna, Stephanie, Colin, Samantha, Margaret, Corey and Douglas and her great grandchildren, Lucas and Alexander. Gladys also leaves behind dear nieces, nephews and extended family. Gladys will always be remembered for her easy-going warmth, wit and charm.

Visitation will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 23 at the Connell Funeral Home 245 E. Broad St. Bethlehem PA 18018. The funeral service will be 12 noon on Friday, July 24 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2540 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017. Visitation from 11a.m. until time of service at Wesley United Methodist Church.

The family would like to thank the staff at Country Meadows for their compassionate care as well as the kind and attentive support from Lehigh Valley Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Scotch Plains (NJ) Historical Society P.O. Box 261 Scotch Plains, NJ 07076.

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531