Gladys Montane

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Gladys Montane who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Gladys was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Gladys knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Gladys was born on September 24, 1941 at Bogota, Colombia. Her parents were Eva Bello and Alfredo Bello. Gladys was raised in Bogota, Colombia. Even as a youngster, Gladys learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Gladys was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Gladys was raised with nine siblings. She had three brothers and six sisters. Gladys had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Gladys, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

In school, Gladys was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Gladys was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Gladys’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Business Class.

An objective and conscientious individual, Gladys reveled in the security of her family. On May 19, 1965 Gladys exchanged wedding vows with Agustin Montane at St. Peters Church of Monticello, New York. One of Gladys’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Gladys was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Gladys would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Gladys was blessed with two daughters, Jacqueline and Katherine. She was also blessed with four grandchildren Christian, JP, Antonio and Sakina.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Gladys was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Gladys was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Gladys upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was Paralegal. Gladys was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Gladys approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were doing crosswords, word search, reading and taking nature walks. Gladys was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Gladys to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were watching Soccer.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Gladys used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Gladys had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included traveling to Playa Del Carmen and Santo Domingo.

Gladys was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. Three of Gladys’s favorites were three Bichons. One named Coco and one named Borona, and of course Buttons, her first doggie Grandson.

She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. In retirement, she found new pleasure in cooking for her family. In many ways, Gladys loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

She is survived by her children Jacqueline and Katherine, her son-in-law Danilo and her grandchildren Christian, JP, Antonio and Sakina. Services were held at Palm Northwest Mortuary. Gladys will be laid to rest with her family in Colombia.

All who knew her would agree that Gladys was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Gladys Montane did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.