Obituary of Gladys M. Kimmerer

Gladys M. Kimmerer, 93 Retired secretary was active in her church Lifelong Staten Islander Gladys M. Kimmerer passed away on Monday, October 16, at Staten Island University Hospital South. She was born Gladys Margaret Schimmel in Bulls Head, where her father, Henry, owned a car repair garage. At six years of age, upon the death of her father, she moved with her mother, Rose (nee Wolf), to Port Richmond, and grew up in the family home of her maternal grandmother on Hatfield Place. She graduated from Port Richmond High School, where she learned the secretarial skills that would serve her well throughout her working life. After high school, she worked as a secretary for several insurance companies in Manhattan. Gladys married Carl William Kimmerer on August 11, 1945. Shortly after their marriage Carl went off to serve in the Army in Alaska. Upon his return the couple lived in Castleton Corners until they bought a home in Sunnyside in 1955, where they lived until 1985. Carl passed away in 1993. A stay-at-home mom while her children were small, Gladys returned to the workforce in 1966 as the first secretary of the newly-formed Faith United Methodist Church. She typed more than 100 words per minute, took dictation, and was well-known for her proofreading skills and strong memory. She left Faith UMC as an employee in 1980 to work as a secretary in the clergy office at Trinity Church Wall Street in Manhattan, from which she retired in 1990. In retirement she enjoyed travelling with her husband and their friends to Hawaii, Florida, and other U.S. places of interest. She and her husband also enjoyed playing pinochle. After the death of her husband, Gladys was determined to learn to drive. She secured her first driver’s license at 69 years of age. Until early 2010 she drove a purple PT Cruiser. Gladys was a member of Grace Methodist Church, now Faith United Methodist Church, from childhood. She held many positions in the church over the years, including Chair of the Church Council, Chair of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee, and Membership Secretary. In the years after the death of her husband she increased her church activities, and spent much of her time volunteering there. She also enjoyed summer trips to Florida with her childhood best friend, Peg Linder, and Peg's husband, Bud, and visits with her granddaughter, Ava Rose Kimmerer. She liked playing word games, discussing current events, and telling stories about Staten Island as it was in the days of her youth. And, she never missed an opportunity to dine at one of her favorite Staten Island restaurants. For the past seven years Gladys resided at Sunrise Assisted Living, Concord. She is survived by her daughter, Carlynn Chironna (Ronald), of Staten Island; her son, Alan William (Lisa), of Hauppauge, New York; her granddaughter, Ava; and one cousin, Ruth Rosenberg. In lieu of flowers, donations to Meals on Wheels of Staten Island will be greatly appreciated. Funeral Service at the Matthew Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 2508 Victory Boulevard on Saturday at 11 AM. Committal will be private. Family and friends will be received on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM.