Gladys Van Wyk

Gladys Van Wyk, (nee Van Ostenbridge) age 93 passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Whitehall, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Wilbur Van Wyk, in 1984.

Gladys is survived by her children, Richard Van Wyk (Denise) of Bethlehem, PA, Janice Cross (Mark) of Fairfax, VA, and Kathryn Pitt (Bill) of Hamburg, NJ.  She is also survived by five grandchildren: Lauren Haramic (Jason) of Pittsburgh, PA, Nicholas Van Wyk of Bethlehem, PA, Kati Rosario (Ulysses), of Sparta, NJ, Aubrey Arnette (Cory) of Richmond, Virginia, and Allison Cross of Sydney, Australia; and six great-grandchildren: Nathan and Aaron Haramic, Elijah and Averil Rosario, and Connor and Daniel Arnette. Gladys was predeceased by her brothers, James and Edward, and her sisters, Agnes Myer and Dorothy Gerritsen.  She counted among her closest friends Douglas and Dianne Fromm now living in East Orleans, MA, Carol Freeman of Wayne, NJ, and Frances Alexander of Warwick, NY (a friend for over 80 years).  Many nieces and nephews were also loved dearly.

Gladys was born and raised in Hawthorne, NJ.  She and Will raised their family in Wayne, NJ, and they later relocated to Greensboro, NC and Dayton, OH. Gladys was the church secretary at the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne and a secretary at KLS Sales Associates in Fairfield. After leaving the area, she was employed at Burlington Industries in Greensboro and at NCR in Dayton.  After Will’s death in Dayton, she returned to the Passaic/Bergen County area and worked at Cytec and then as church secretary at the Upper Ridgewood Community Church.  She retired at the age of 75.  Her most recent years were spent at Traditions of Hanover and Fellowship Community in the Bethlehem, PA area.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Preakness Reformed Church (131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470) or to Fellowship Community (Attn: Tracy Bozik, 3020 Fellowship Dr., Whitehall, PA 18052. Please note on check:  For Benevolent Fund in memory of Gladys Van Wyk).