Gladys E. Hess

Gladys E. Hess, of West Milford and a former longtime resident of Lake Hiawatha, passed away on Friday, January 20, 2023. She was 103 years young.

Born and raised in Hudson County, Gladys was one of Anthony and Margaret (Merkel) Bandel’s five dear children. She graduated from secretarial school and began her career at First Liberty Finance in Jersey City. One of the company’s clients just happened to be Frank Sinatra and Gladys enjoyed having lunch a couple of times with him. With her skills, including being proficient in two types of shorthand, she eventually took a job in New York City.

While her seven children were growing up, Gladys worked various jobs in retail before returning to the field of finance when she landed a job with Liberal Finance in Paterson and continued with them when they moved to Parsippany. She enjoyed working at Liberal Finance, her bosses and coworkers became and are her second family. A cherished part of this company for the next sixty years, she finally retired at 97! During the early years a man came brandishing a gun to commit a robbery. Everyone was ordered to get on the ground but she did not and began to argue with him. After he fired his gun, she realized this was real and got on the ground. She was very lucky that day.

Ask Gladys the secret to her longevity and she’d tell you “good coffee and fine wine” and, while that may be true, a lot had to do with her great attitude and active living. Gladys went through her whole life without a driver’s license, choosing instead to walk everywhere she needed or wanted to go, including walking 45 minutes to church. In fact, Gladys walked at least a mile every day until she was 98 years old.

Gladys’ thirst for adventure was seemingly unquenchable. In her seventies, she took a ride on the back of her grandson’s Harley motorcycle all the way from New Jersey through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel enroute to Virginia. She was also known to ride on the handlebars of her son’s bicycle. She went hang gliding, parasailing, and she even rode a zip line when she was 95! Not too many people could say that they swam with the dolphins, floated in a hot air balloon, flew in a World War II biplane or in a helicopter (at the age of 101), but Gladys could. One time she had every intention of jumping from an airplane and parachuting to the ground. She was ready to go but the plane had engine trouble and that adventure had to be squashed. By now it should be clear that Gladys had a love of life.

Camping up in High Point State Park was a long-standing tradition that Gladys and some family members enjoyed for countless years. In fact, she camped until she was 102, and she loved this time away with family. It was a highlight of her summer she looked forward to every year.  One time, while camping, her fearless nature was tested again when, while sitting at a picnic table after lunch reading the paper, a bear approached her. Most people would run but not Gladys. She calmly sat there as that bear came right up to her face, and went back to reading hoping he would leave.  He then walked back down the path he had come from. Her love of travel took her from Cuba to Alaska, also traveling to other countries including Cananda, Italy, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

Gladys loved a good book, enjoyed watching mysteries on television, dancing in conga lines and Tapamania with her sister at Macy’s and eating ice-cream. Simple pleasures like sitting on the boardwalk, admiring waves, smelling sea air, and watching people was something that she appreciated. The sounds and smells made her feel content no matter what the weather nor the temperature. Gladys was always up for a ride in the car down the shore or up to the mountains, enjoying nature.

Gladys had a great sense of humor. She laughed right along with her kids and grandchildren whenever they lovingly referred to her as “Mrs. Been There, Done That”. Her daughter recently took a picture of her standing under a sign with a dinosaur on it.

She was very proud of her children and so grateful that she was able to raise all seven of them on her own. She had the beautiful ability to have everyone in her family feeling and knowing they were the most important and most loved person in the world.

Gladys was a woman of great moral character. Once while on a trip by Amtrack train, the train crashed. Her only complaints were that she was late for her destination and no one offered her a drink.

Her moral and upright character were a testimony to her unshakeable faith in God. Gladys trusted God throughout her whole life, in the good times but also in the challenging times. Gladys always felt that her children and family were her greatest gifts from God, we know she was ours. Church was where she found comfort. Even as she aged she was able to go in person. When the weather did not permit, she watched Mass on television.  She always said the rosary and morning prayer prior to starting her day. Now, she is home in heaven, beginning her new life. Well done Gladys!    

Gladys was the cherished mother of: Alfred Hess of Elon, SC, Steven Hess of Lake Hiawatha, Gladys Tacinelli and her husband Tom of West Milford, Walter Hess and wife Diane of Laurens, SC, Eileen Strignile of Totowa, Thomas Hess and wife Tammy of West Milford, and Joseph Hess of Cherry Hill; awesome grandmother of: Robin and husband Bob, Virginia and husband Tom, Christina, Jennifer, Amy, Kelly, Thomas and wife Sonia, Trish, Suzane and husband Damian, Eric and wife Luba, Amanda, Mary and husband Frank, Anthony and wife Kim, Melissa and husband Robert, Angela, Christopher and wife Stephanie,  T.J. and wife Amber, Destiny and husband Mark, and Michael; much loved great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother; sister of Doris “Doll” and late husband Arnold “Woody” of Paramus; and dear aunt of numerous nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her two brothers and other sister: Arthur, Walter and Margaret “Sis”.

THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR MOM, NANA, BIDDY, GREAT GRANDMA!

WE LOVE YOU NOW AND ALWAYS.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Gladys’ name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memorial Processing501 St. Jude PlaceMemphis, TN 38105-9959