Gladys Ann Moore McGovern

Gladys Ann Moore McGovern

Gladys was born and raised in Providence, RI, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Gates) Moore.  She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy and after high school, completed a commercial course at Johnson and Wales college.  She married the love of her life, Bernard, and together they created the life Gladys always wanted, centered around her family, her friends and her community.  Gladys traveled the world, from Japan to Canada and countries in between, loved to bake (but not cook dinner!), loved her Friday night date nights with Bernie, along with a glass of wine.  She loved to putter around her home and garden, crooners from the 1950s, her evening programs on TV, the special treats made and given to her by her children and children-in-law.  And, a good piece of chocolate that she could keep all for herself.

A homemaker most of her married life, Gladys decided she wanted to work outside the home after her children were grown and Bernie retired.  Gladys worked as a sales associate with Strawbridge & Clothier for more than a decade.  After retiring, she volunteered at The Women’s Exchange in West Chester, discovering a whole new passion for bargains and trinkets.  The family would like to thank the other volunteers of “The Shop” for the fun and good conversations she had with them, and to thank her neighbors, old and new, for remembering and often asking about her.

Gladys was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Joseph, Harold, Albert, Horace, Earl, George and Walter, and by her sister Dorothy and her beloved sister Hilda, who raised her, and Allan McDermott. She is survived by:  her husband of nearly 70 years, Bernard; her six children, Maureen McGovern (Tony) of West Chester, Allison DiPietro (Mike) of New Hampshire, Jacqueline Steber (Ron) of Hazelton, Pa, Edward McGovern (Cindy) of Virginia, Susan McGovern of West Chester, and Michael McGovern (Tonya) of New Jersey; twelve grandchildren, Melissa Hemerly (Nate), Caitlin Simkovich (Ben), Noelle McSherry (Jim), Joe Simkovich (Kelly), Anna and Laura DiPietro, Brian and Megan McGovern, Jeff Steber, and Brigid, Margo and George McGovern; and two great grandchildren, Evan and Claire Hemerly. She is also survived by her sisters and brothers of her “second family,” Gloria Catalfomo, Rita Cagle, James McDermott, Jr. and Donald McDermott (Pat), and numerous Moore, McDermott and McIntyre nieces and nephews.

She was the rock to which the family anchored.

Relatives and Friends are invited to a visitation on Saturday, May 29, 2021 from 9:00 am - 10:00 am at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 410 North Church Street West Chester, PA 19380, 610-696-1181, www.DellaFH.com; followed by a Memorial Service for both  Gladys, “Pooh,” and her husband  Bernard " Bernie" at 10:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Women’s Exchange, 10 S. Church Street, West Chester, PA 19382. 

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181; www.DellaFH.com.