Gladys E. Cherry

GLADYS ELIZABETH CHERRY    March 11, 1934-May 28, 2021

Safe travels to our smack talking, court holding, one cigarette a week smoking, center of attention loving, Globe/Star/Enquirer reading, Maury/Judge Judy watching, piano virtuoso playing, no filter using, Bears management/coaching/Jay Cutler hating, Red Lobster eating, PITA (Pain In The Ass), big hearted raconteur and mom Gladys Cherry, who passed away Friday, May 28 ^th at age 87, at the place she loved most-her home of close to 60 years in Chicago Heights.

Gladys was born during the great depression at Chicago's Henroten hospital to her Scottish immigrant parents.  She came into this world late in her parent's life, as a substitute for their oldest son who had been killed in an accident. So, she made the best of it.  At age 8, she asked her parents why they seemed so sad, and was told it was because Scottish people are dour.  She said she decided right then that she'd be the opposite and make warmth, hugging, joy and love (and evidently non-stop talking) her business for the rest of her life.

She went to Manierre Elementary School, and then Waller High School (now Lincoln Park High School) and, as we heard endlessly, she was voted Most Popular and she was the President of the French club, though the only French she could quote to us was "voulez vous couchette avec moi".   She went on to attend Bowling Green Business College in Bowling Green, Kentucky to earn a degree as a professional secretary.  She was initially shunned by the sororities because she was a Yankee but won "Best Personality" for the entire school by the end of her first year-which she made sure to mention to us frequently.   Unfortunately, her father had a heart attack that year, and she had to return home to help and never returned to school.

She met her guy, Donald Cherry, at a Marine Corp Dance in 1952.  She became friend's with Joanne,  Don's sister, in high school and wanted to go to the dance with two of her brothers, but when they both weren't interested, Don said, "I'll take her off your hands".   She worked at Marshall Fields on State, and was dressed to the nines when her date showed up wearing what she described as "a dumpy Maxwell Street Suit".   It was love.

They married on September 25, 1954 at Fourth Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue.  The minister who married them (who had also christened her), told her not to talk to guests as she walked down the aisle as it was a solemn occasion.  That didn't happen.   When her parents met Don, her mom said, "what do you see in him?".  Gladys said that five years later, her mother told her "what does he see in you?"   They could not have had two more different temperaments, but it worked for them for 39 years.   She was the outgoing life of the party Don was not, and he was the solid steady rock that she wasn't.   They went on to have two children Ken and Doug.  Gladys stayed home for nine years while raising them and then went back part time, then full time as a secretary or receptionist.  They lived and loved together until Don's death in 1991.   She often said he was the only guy she ever needed.  She still missed him until now-his urn, complete with lipstick kisses on it, sat quietly next to her bed, waiting for last Friday to be reunited.

After Don's death, she, at age 57, found her calling as the receptionist at Prairie Manor Nursing and Rehab in Chicago Heights, where she would go on to greet families, guests and patients for the next 30 years.    As her own mother died there, she had a warm welcome and hug for those making a tough decision to put their loved ones in a nursing home, and a hug for those who had lost their loved ones.  Based on the numerous cards, gifts and letters she received on her birthday and holidays, this was what she was meant to do.  And she got to be the center of attention on top of it, playing Christmas carols on her keyboard over the PM sound system.    She also bragged about taking 120+ calls a day, but we cannot vouch for that being true.  PM allowed her to bring her Lhasa Apso Barney to work every day, and the two of them were inseparable, becoming a key part of PM's appeal.   This went well until Barney won employee of the month, which mom then barged into the general manager's office to ask why she didn't get it instead of Barney, only to be quickly defused by being told it was because the dog didn't talk back.  She was awarded employee of the month a couple of times as well being recognized as a Hero by the Illinois Council on Long Term Care in 2008.   She was quick with a smile, a silly comment, an outrageous costume and a song.

She loved her home, and, in the end, she died where she wanted to, where her husband had. It was her safe space, her fortress and a love of her life.   She was not able to work due to covid and spent her last year at home away from the job she loved.  Recently we had taken her to see independent living apartments, which she was having none of, so she died at home to show she wasn't going to leave her bunker.   She left on her terms and did it her way.

She's left to join her husband Don, parents Elizabeth and James Edwards, brothers James and Ronald, best friend Joannie Mayer, and her dogs Joshua, Geisha, and Barney.  She is survived by her sons Douglas (wife Dawn), and Ken, as well as three grandkids she loved Jeffrey, Danielle and Bradley.  She is also survived by too many non-family members to mention who were so kind to her and she loved as her own.   She especially loved her other kids Pamela and David Mayer, Darcie Melia, and Chuck Schlaegel.   These people were family by actions and by love, though not by blood.

In lieu of flowers, please grab a glass of the cheap ass Lambrusco red wine she drank (served cold yuck!), and a cigarette, and have one of each in her honor, for a life well lived.   If you'd like to make a difference in her name, please donate to the South Suburban Humane Society, and help out other doggies (and cats) in need that our mom loved so much https://www.southsuburbanhumane.org/donate

Memorial Visitation and Service on Saturday June 19, from 1 pm until the time of Service at 3 pm.  For additional information contact Tews-ryanfh.com or call 708-798-5300