Obituary of Gladys June Smith
Gladys June Smith, of Boonton, NJ, formerly of Vineland, NJ, peacefully passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018, with her loving son by her side.
Born in Vineland, NJ to Faustino Sbrana and Anna (Scalfo) Sbrana, Gladys lived most of her life in Vineland. In 2005, she moved to Boonton, New Jersey to be closer to her son Jeffrey and daughter in law Tammy Probst-Smith. Boonton became her adopted home and she loved its friendly small-town feel and traditions.
Gladys was a graduate of Glassboro State (Rowan University) where she obtained a bachelor's degree. She graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with master's degree, and was close to achieving her doctorate. A lifetime educator by profession, a poet by heart, Gladys taught English and creative writing, and film/video production at Vineland Senior High School for 30 years. Her joy and passion was working with her student volunteers to publish the school's annual literary magazine, "Phenakistiscope" which was well known and won many accolades. Her spirit lives on in her words she has written and in the lives of the many students she touched and nurtured; always a teacher, always a friend, and occasionally a surrogate "mom" to those broken souls in need.
Gladys is survived by her devoted son, Jeffrey and his wife, Tammy; loving sister, Marlene Gray and brother, F. John Sbrana.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Codey & Mackey Funeral Home, 107 Essex Avenue, Boonton, NJ on Thursday, April 26th from 6 – 8 pm and on Friday, April 27th from 11am – 12 noon, followed by a short service at noon. The interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery on Washington Street in Boonton, NJ.
To extend condolences or share a memory, please visit codeymackeyfh.com.
Gladys adopted her beautiful rescue dog "Queenie" in 2012. They were an unlikely pairing on the surface, but they both shared parallel lives with many stories to tell. Flowers brighten our lives for only a moment, but the work of those who rescue unwanted and broken animals brighten the lives of their new owners for a lifetime. Gladys' wish is that in lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations in Gladys' Memory be made to Northstar Pet Rescue, PO Box 284, Boonton, NJ 07005 (www.northstarpets.org).
"Peace, to have it dwell in the heart's deepest essence, and then to be made manifest in daily life, is ultimately a search for love – without fear, and, in all of its divine colors" – Gladys June Smith