Gladys Kivel

Gladys Virginia Kivel, age 102, died at Azalea Health and Rehabilitation Center, Wilmington, NC, on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. Gladys was born on August 1, 1915 in Yonkers, NY. She grew up on Nepperhan Avenue in the area called Nepera Park and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers. Following High School she began working at the historic Alexander Smith Carpet Mill on Nepperhan Avenue from 1935 to 1943, where she met her husband, Thomas Leo Kivel. They married on Christmas Day, 1941.

She is survived by three of her four children, Jeanne Smith, Thomas Kivel (Erica) and Carol Zimmer (Gregory); nine grandchildren: Darlene Mandzak (Dave), William Smith, Kevin Smith (Kathleen), Stacey Kivel (Steven), Thomas, Tonya (Paul), Kristan Sveda (James), Nicole Howard (Jonathan), Karen Tarnow (Ethan); and 19 great-grandchildren: Michael, Monica, Joshua, Jacob, Emma, Jack, Kevin, Marlo, Vaughn, Elizabeth, William, Christian, Gregory, Owen, Leo, Preston, Hayden, Austin, Norah; and great-great-grandchild, Claire. Gladys was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years; her son, John (Jack) Kivel; great-granddaughter, Virginia and great-grandson, Graham.

Gladys loved being with family. In her youth, she was devoted to her mother and enjoyed spending time with her two sisters, Eleanor and Grace and her brother Herbert. As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother she spent lots of time with family whether traveling on vacations, quiet moments at home or family gatherings. She loved to read and listen to Frank Sinatra. She had a youthful spirit and a wonderful sense of humor and will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

The family will receive guests from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Whalen and Ball Funeral Home, 168 Park Ave., Yonkers, NY. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Yonkers, NY.