Obituary of Gladys Evers Wickswat

Gladys Evers Wickswat,92, formerly of Bovina Center, NY, passed away early Saturday morning, October 1, 2016, at Margaretville Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family. She had been a resident of Mountainside Residential Center for the last two years. Gladys was born on July 26, 1924, the third of eight children of the late Louis and Alice (Fonck) Evers. Gladys grew up in East Rutherford, NJ, and as a teenager enjoyed roller and dance skating with her sisters. She was the assistant manager of the Rex movie theater. She moved to Rutherford, NJ, where she served for many years as the treasurer of Grace Episcopal Church and worked at Thomas Printing and Office Supply Company. She was known for her beautiful rose garden and her knack for growing African violets. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining her large family and friends. She and her children enjoyed spending summers at their home on Coulter Brook in Bovina. In 1975, Gladys moved permanently to Bovina where she worked for many years for LaFever Excavating Company. She was a member of the Bovina Historical Society and St. James Church, Lake Delaware. She was devoted to her family and known for her delicious apple pies, cookies, and homemade soups. She loved having her sister and extended family visit. During her later years, she was an avid advocate for animals. Even in her elderly years, she lovingly cared for her pet rabbits. She was a member of the Humane Society, ASPCA, and PETA and generously donated to many animal rescue organizations. Gladys was pre-deceased by her sisters Marjorie Polkowski and Alice Giaquinto, her brothers, Louis (Sonny), George, Robert, and William Evers, and her daughter-in-law, Cathy (Southworth) Wickswat. She is survived by her sister, Lillian Granata of East Rutherford, NJ, her son George Wickswat of Little Falls, NY, her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and William DuCharme of Whitestone, NY, her six grandchildren, John Mark DuCharme and wife Julie, Alicia DuCharme Cortes and husband Juan, Kathleen DuCharme Skinner and husband Jamal, Katie Wickswat Switzer and husband Nickolas, Kevin Wickswat and wife Elizabeth, and Daniel Wickswat, and her six great grandchildren, Abigail, Evelyn, Sean, and Caroline Cortes, Alexander Switzer, and Gabriel Skinner; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held at noon on Friday, October 7, 2016, at St. James Church, Lake Delaware. Burial will follow at Bovina Cemetery. Contributions in memory of Gladys Wickswat may be made to Heart of the Catskills Humane Society, PO Box 88, Delhi, NY 13753.