On 2-20-1937 in the Culver City Home of the Asadurian Family, Seto, (Sam) and Louise Asadurian, with a little help from a midwife, welcomed Gladys, the youngest and final child to the brood of five as her excited siblings waited outside the bedroom door.
Growing up a bit naive and somewhat an idealist, Gladys grew up surrounded by fun, love, and family. Being the baby, her family doted on her and she idolized them all. Most especially her mother and dad, the family worked hard from as far back as she could remember and everyone chipped in.
Her brothers, Sammy and Manny, with cousin Mikey, befriended a little boy in the neighborhood nicknamed Red, because of his bright ginger red hair. When she was only 4 years old, this boy, Red, was 8 and she decided she wanted to spend her life with him so she asked him to marry her. He giggled and said, "maybe one day". Persistent as she was, she asked him again at 12 or 13, little did he know that he did not have a chance. At the age of 16 years and 9 days she and Red entered into a marriage that would last 63 years before Red's passing.
In 1947, at 10 years old, her family bought the Valley home on Louise Avenue, transitioning from Culver City. She and her brother, Sam, shared a love of horses. Gladys loved to ride and did so almost daily throughout the Orange groves that were the San Fernando Valley in the late 40’s and early 1950s.
As she had planned as a young girl, she became Mrs. Arthur Eugene Smith on March 1 1953. Nine months and four days later on December 4th, they welcomed their first son, Danny. It was soon after this that she suffered the fall from her horse. Age 16 proved to be a pivotal time in her life with her breaking her back and suffering from a fractured back for the remainder of her life.
As a young couple, Red and Gladys soon started their family with Danny in 1953. Then the birth of Dennis in July of 1955, and then Duke in July 1961, making this branch of the Asadurian/Smith union complete.
There was no space between Gladys and her family. They were like a family connected by something stronger than blood, she was forever loyal to her brothers and sisters as they were to her. Even during times of anger and chaos they still rallied behind, as well as relied on each other, often having code names and signals so as to be able to talk to each other if their spouse was in the room.
Gladys worked along one sibling or another doing whatever was asked of her for most of her life, in-between Red and her owned multiple businesses, she also supported her Son’s in building their own business, once becoming a Kief processor when her son Duke opened Cannabis dispensaries, she would sit and pour the cannabis on the Kief table and mix it, she thought it was fun, where as just a few years before she thought everything about cannabis was bad now she was in processing and even liked to see the harvest before they cultivated, she was always willing to grow and listen and change even embrace life when it came to societal issues.
Due to her perseverance and persistence, Gladys' greatest talent was ingratiating herself to others, doing the sales, be it for the family’s Trash company’s, her sons Locksmith business, her others sons maintenance company, or Brothers Manny’s sweeping business, Gladys was always there to “represent” the family.
Each of the siblings were dynamic and charming, Sam was all about the financial success, Dolly and Marilyn worked with their husbands to support the family yet create their own fortunes through hard work and dedication, and although Dolly was Gladys guardian angel they all looked to the brother Manny who was a true Family personality, Gladys learned from him, when meeting her you would often be greeted with a tale or joke that would make you smile or laugh to your hearts delight, but the Siblings charm tarnished when dealing with each other, they were hard and demanding from each other as well as the children demanding a lot, usually expected perfection, and Gladys was no exception earning her the nickname from many cousins of Gestapo.
Gladys will be missed most especially by her surviving son Dennis and Wife Cathie, their children Angela, with partner Jack, as well as Dennis Junior, her son Duke and his 2 Boys Daniel and Tony Vega-Smith, not to mention Grandchildren Josh, Julie, and Jody, numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends alike.
Being the youngest Gladys is proceeded to the heavens by her Mom, Dad, Siblings, as well as her first born son Danny, Now after leaving an indelible mark she will Join her entire family to rest for eternity basking in the light of glory that is in heaven for all of us with faith.
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