May 18, 1924 - March 31, 2013
COOPERSTOWN - Frances "Gladys" Davidson, age 88, passed away peacefully at home on Easter Sunday morning, March 31, 2013.
Born May 18, 1924 in Rockwood, PA, she was one of nine daughters and two sons of Frank and Sophie Gorence. Gladys married Roger H. Davidson on July 31, 1948 in Cooperstown and lived in the Davidson family home until her passing.
Gladys graduated from Cooperstown High School on June 24, 1942. She went to work for the New York Telephone Company as an operator in March 1943. She was a friendly voice for servicemen calling home during the war. She was promoted to Supervisor and later left to raise her children. After her children were grown, she served as the owner of Rod's TV and Appliances. She was a 60 year member of the VFW Auxiliary and longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. During later years she enjoyed tending her flower garden and feeding the birds at home, attending Friday night auctions, walking around town, and dancing to Big Band and Polka music.
She is survived by her son Roger H. (Maureen B.) Davidson of Hartwick; her daughter Becky A. (Brian) Davidson-Nielsen of Cooperstown; her beloved grandchildren, William (Marissa) Davidson of Hartwick, and Emily Davidson of Oneonta and step-grandchildren, Michael and Ryan Barrow. She is also survived by a sister, Louise Kubis of Schenevus; a sister-in-law, Marian Gorence of North Tonawanda; a brother-in-law, Richard M. (Mary Lou) Davidson of Jacksonville, NC; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Sheldon of Cooperstown and Joyce Cowles of Poughkeepsie; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by very special friends, Steven Reynolds, Kaitlyn DiPippo and Richard Clancy of Cooperstown and caregiver Eileen Bramsen of Maryland.
Gladys was predeceased by her husband, Roger H. Davidson, on April 19, 1997; seven sisters, Agnes Van Dyke, Alice Gurley, Mary Roberts, Sophie Gus, Jenny Calhoun, Carolyn Schemm and Anne Sugarick; and two brothers, Frank and Charles Gorence.
Visitation for family and friends will begin at 9:30 am on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in the church at 11 am on Saturday, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding. Assisting will be Fr. David Wm Mickiewicz, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Oneonta.
Gladys will be laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery in Index.
Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to the Cooperstown Fire Department, P. O. Box 1, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Instead of floral arrangements, the family respectfully requests plants that can be planted at the family home in memory of Gladys.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.
