Gladys M. (Rathfelder) Hartley, 100, died peacefully, Friday, December 24, 2021 at All American Assisted Living in Wareham, surrounded by her family.
Gladys, a resident of Rochester was born in Philadelphia on December 23, 1921 and raised in Drexel Hill, PA. She was the widow of J. Frazer Hartley who died in 1986. She is survived by her sons: James of Cape Canaveral, FL, Jonathan of Wareham and Joel of Marion; her daughters: Heidi Maitland of Kingston, Lori Wilson of Corvallis, OR and Sharon Sylvia of Rochester. Also survived by 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one great grandchild.
A graduate of Upper Darby High School in Pennsylvania, she spent the war years working for NASP in Philadelphia and was a member of the Buck Ridge Ski Group, and the Outing Club of the YMCA. She spent a summer leading a bike group leaving from Massachusetts, riding around Gaspe, Canada via Montreal and Quebec.
Gladys and Frazer were wed in Pennsylvania in 1947. They travelled all over the USA, camping in National Parks with family. Gladys later travelled to many foreign countries with Frazer. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Rochester, and for over 50 years a member of Long Plain Baptist Church in Acushnet.
Her funeral service will be held on Friday, Dec, 31, 2021 at First Congregational Church, 11 Constitution Way, Rochester at 10 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment will follow in Sherman Cemetery, Rochester. Visiting hours have been omitted.
Donations in her memory may be made to Friends of the Mattapoisett Rail Trail, P.O. Box 1336, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. Arrangements by Chapman Funerals & Cremations – Wareham. To leave a message of condolence visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com
