Gladys Ruth Persico

Born in Brooklyn, NY on July 1, 1927, Gladys was one of four children brought into this world by Frank Joseph and Gladys Sophie Martin. She had a younger brother Joseph (Buddy), and two younger sisters, Marjorie and Janet. She lived a modest but very loving family oriented life throughout her childhood and into her teens until she met her husband of 60 years, Joseph N. Persico… when he returned from active duty in World War II. Gladys and Joseph were married on October 5, 1946 and shared a wonderful life together. Joe had a passion for horses which Gladys embraced from the start of their relationship. Together they also loved boating and flying in their private plane. In 1951 they welcomed their first child Julianne into the world followed in 1954 with the birth of their son Joseph. When the children were young they settled on Long Island in Bethpage. In 1960, moved further out on the island to St. James where they remodeled a house and barn built in 1900 situated on 2 acres. Gladys worked in retail, and then as Secretary to the Director of Nursing at Smithtown General Hospital in Smithtown, NY. As the years progressed, Gladys and Joe spent many winter months in Florida and eventually, retired and built a home in River Falls, Wisconsin to be near their son Joseph. They travelled from their Wisconsin home to their Florida home often to spend time with their daughter, Julianne, who had settled in Fort Myers. Gladys lived a full and adventurous life with her husband Joseph until he passed in 2007. In 2012, Gladys moved in with Julianne and her husband Jack, and lived out her days in NW Cape Coral. Gladys was a very positive, happy, generous, God loving soul who thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family. She loved to sing, dance, and laugh. She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed.

Gladys is survived by her sister Marjorie and family, her sister in law Lorraine and husband Elliott, her daughter Julianne, son Joseph, three grandchildren…Nicholas, Christopher and Jonathan, their wives Melissa and Elizabeth, eight great grandchildren…Blane, Maddie, Lucca, Nicco, Ravenna, Hayley, Lyla and Jack.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 5th at Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 950 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL, between the hours of 12 - 5pm with the service being held at 3:30pm. A 12:30pm burial service will be held on Friday, June 6th at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave, Bushnell, FL.