Gladys O. Crespo

She immigrated from Ecuador to Lawrence, Mass., on June 5, 1966 to pursue a better life for herself and her family. Confronted with the many challenges of living in a foreign land, Gladys adapted to her new life with determination. Some of her traits included being a very independent, hard-working, and loving matriarch of the family.

Mrs. Crespo, lovingly known by many family members, as “Mami Gladys,” was a beacon of light for the family whose home was always open in case of need. She loved gardening and caring for her beautiful garden at a lakeside apartment she bought with her savings in Hialeah, Florida.

Additionally, she was the proud mother of Raul Peñafiel, Elena and Eduardo Crespo who cherished her love and support while also being instilled with discipline and righteousness.

For over 25 years, Gladys lived in Lawrence where she enjoyed going on summer vacations and often visited her relatives in Ecuador where she shared her anecdotes and happiness about her new and after she retired at the age of 62 she moved to Florida.

Mrs. Crespo had 2 deceased brothers, Julio and Nelson Palacios, Jorge and Charbel Farah and 4 sisters, Blanca Montalvo, Irma Palacios, Sonia and Mariana Farah. She is survived by her daughter Elena Crespo, sons Raul Peñafiel and his wife Alicia, Eduardo Crespo and his wife Laura, her grandchildren Roland and Stephen Demers, John Aviles, Patricia and the late Paola Peñafiel, Edward, Jaime, and Hugo Crespo.