Gladys L. PERETTI

1931 - 2024

Gladys Lucille Peretti, 93, of Spokane, Washington, passed away on July 31, 2024.

Gladys was born on June 8, 1931, in Deer Park, Washington, to Lucille "Lucy" and Philip Cerenzia. After Gladys finished first grade, her family moved to Spokane, where she attended Frances-Willard Elementary School. From a large and happy family, Gladys's youth was not without significant challenges. Marie, her younger sister, caught Scarlet Fever, and eventually succumbed to complications from it. Soon after, when swimming with a friend in Priest River, Gladys was caught by a current. Gladys' father, Philip, leapt into action pulling Gladys onto the beach. However, his logging boots were filled with water and was pulled underwater and drowned. His bravery earned a Carnegie Award in heroism, which provided a monetary award for Gladys to receive an education. After she graduated from North Central High School, at the age of 16, Gladys was accepted into Gonzaga University's first women's class.

Gladys earned her degree in Medical Technology, and she started work at the Rockwood Clinic as a medical technologist. One day on her lunch break, Gladys happened into The Crescent Department Store and met a young woman named Molly Tsalaky, who was also a med-tech and was to become her business partner and one of her dearest friends. Together they opened the Valley Medical Laboratory on Jan. 16, 1956. Gladys was an active, young professional and met Larry Peretti at a Young Catholics group in Spokane. They married in 1960. Larry was a CPA and a senior partner at Anderson and Peretti and Co. Gladys and Larry had two children, Todd and Domonique. Then Gladys leaned into her entrepreneurial spirit. She loved to trade stocks, worked as a real estate agent, and she and Larry managed rental properties. Gladys was instrumental in starting a Meals on Wheels chapter in Spokane Valley. She delivered meals for them for many years. Larry and Gladys purchased land out on Lake Coeur d'Alene and built a lake house. Their neighbors there became their "Lake Family" with whom they enjoyed summers at the lake, trips to Las Vegas, and celebrated all that their lives brought them. There, she and Larry spent much of their retirement. They also loved to travel and three of their favorite trips were to enjoy Italy with their children and grandchildren. Gladys enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren attending the football, baseball and soccer games of her grandsons. She also enjoyed morning lake coffee chats with her granddaughters and weekly coffee runs in her red convertible Mercedes with her oldest granddaughter who also attended Gonzaga. Gladys was a lifelong Zag and enjoyed watching the men's and women's basketball games. She and Larry were often season ticket holders for the Women's Games and attended and cheered at many of them. Gladys and Larry were married for 56 years when Larry passed away in 2016. Gladys was known for her vivacious personality. She embodied a spirit of hospitality and had a habit of creating family wherever she went. Her friends and neighbors all became additional family members. She was known for caring, sage advice, late night chats, and sharing some Crown on the rocks.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Peretti; sister, Marie Cerenzia; father, Philip Cerenzia; mother, Lucy Sisco; and stepfather, Frank Sisco. She is survived by her son, Todd Peretti, his wife, Kelly and their three children, Jessica Peretti and husband, Matthew Pollock, Kristina Peretti and husband, Conner Gould, and Christopher Peretti; and great-granddaughter, Francesca Lucia Pollock. She is also survived by her daughter, Domonique Peretti-Reynolds, her husband, Jeff Reynolds, and their two children, Philip Peretti-Reynolds and Luciano Reynolds. She is survived by her sister, Sharon Paulsen, and her husband, Al; and brother, John Sisco, and his wife, Diana. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, where she was a proud member, 3327 S. Perry Street, Spokane, WA 99203, on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Poor Clare Sisters, 4419 N. Hawthorne St., Spokane, WA 99205.