Anne Gladding Stern

Anne Gladding Stern

AGE: 93 • Greenville

Anne Gladding Stern died peacefully in her sleep on January 23, 2014. Born in Carney's Point, NJ in 1920, she spent most of her childhood in Buffalo, NY where her father managed the DuPont rayon facility. One of five children, she was the daughter of Dr. Ernest Knight Gladding and Elizabeth Congdon Gladding. Anne graduated from The Buffalo Seminary, Wheaton College (Massachusetts) and Yale University School of Nursing where she received her Master of Nursing Science degree. Upon graduation from Yale, she enlisted in the US Army Nurse Corps and served her country as a first lieutenant in the Pacific theater during World War II. After the War, Anne moved to Wilmington where her family now lived and became a nursing instructor at the Delaware Hospital School of Nursing. It was there that she met and married her husband, Dr. Oscar N. Stern, who also had just returned from his WW II military service in Europe.

Greatly loved by family and friends, Anne was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and ultimately, great grandmother whose life revolved around her large family. Known for her kindness, graciousness and dignity, Anne never had a bad word to say about anyone. She loved bridge and board games, especially when played with her grandchildren. Over the years, she enjoyed working with many groups as a volunteer. Some of the organizations she was most involved with included the Junior League of Wilmington, Limen House, where she was on the board for many years, the (former) Florence Crittenden Home and the Wilmington Flower Market. As a proud veteran, she enjoyed speaking to school groups about her World War II experiences. The family feels fortunate to have her written memoirs of her time in the military. She also served as a deacon for Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Preceded in death by all four of her siblings and by her beloved husband, she is survived by her two daughters, Mary S. Sykes (Fred) of Rye, NY, and Anne S. Gallagher (Mike) of Wilmington; five grandchildren, Amelia Sykes Singer (Mortimer), Elizabeth Sykes McIntyre (Ryan) and Frederick Sykes, Jr., all of New York City; Sarah G. Gallagher and Megan C. Gallagher both of Philadelphia; and two great-granddaughters, Daisy and Alice Singer of New York.

Anne's family would like to express their sincere thanks to the wonderful nurses aides provided by Taylors Services, to the nursing staff at Stonegates and especially to Meegan Barr and Pat Croner who helped make her final years such a joy. While the graveside burial service at Lower Brandywine Cemetery will be private, there will be a memorial service for family and friends at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at the Greenville Country Club, 201 Owl's Nest Road, Greenville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Limen House, P.O. Box 1306, Wilmington, DE 19899 or to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 West 13th Street, Wilmington, DE 19806.

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