Gladys Stavn's Obituary
Alfreda Gladys Stavn, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, CA, born in Lashburn, Saskatchewan in Canada has died. She passed peacefully on Friday, April 22, 2016 with her daughter and son by her side. She was born on July 20, 1937, the second youngest of four children. She was 78 and is survived by her two children and their families Sherise N. Stark & her husband Curt, Kent Stavn & wife Mary. She is also survived by her five lovely grandchildren Zackary & Serenity Stark; & Zoe, Gemma & Alexander Stavn; Her three sisters Lily Willoughby, Alice MacEachern, Frances Flesaker and their Families.Gladys, was born to Alma and Herbert Herter and lived on the family farm with her four sisters. She attended and graduated from a weekday boarding Lloydminster Composite High School in Lloydminster on the Saskatchewan/Alberta provincial border. She attended Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing in Calgary, Alberta Canada and graduated in 1961. Gladys was a very independent and strong woman even at a young age. Gladys kept her Canadian citizenship and moved from Canada to live in the U.S. to work as a nurse in Redwood City, California. She worked as nurse at Sharon Heights Nursing Home. It was shortly after that she met Phil Stavn at a party in Woodside, CA and they were wed in 1964. Gladys remained a Canadian citizen living in California as a permanent legal resident. Gladys moved on to work as a Registered Nurse (R.N.) at Hoover Pavilion and the Stanford Medical Center within Stanford University Hospital. Gladys worked as a R.N. for 38 years and was a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood in Santa Clara County for nearly 50 years and saw many changes over the years.Gladys and Phil lived in Palo Alto, CA and had two children, Sherise and Kent. Gladys became active in her children’s school, Escondido Elementary and served as PTA President for several years. She participated in the College Terrace neighborhood association. She was a member of the Lutheran Church and attended the Wesley United Methodist Church and Stanford Memorial Church for many years. She was very active in civic matters, and attended many Palo Alto City meetings to advocate for sound environmental civic development. She was also a staunch union advocate and representative with CRONA, the nursing union. She enjoyed the opportunity to advocate for the rights of her lifelong nursing colleagues.Gladys was a survivor, enduring many significant challenges in her lifetime. She survived illness and injury during childhood, moved away from her home country, lost the love of her life, Phil to illness in 2003, fought breast cancer and won and amazingly survived a serious car accident in 2012. She bravely fought her last battle until the end when she passed peacefully to again join her beloved husband Phil.Gladys had many passions in life to include dancing the twist with Phil and with anyone who would join her, driving, gardening, the Redwoods including the beautiful tall tree in her front yard, waterskiing, playing piano, playing with her grandchildren, singing and travel. She loved traveling around the world to meet new people and to visit with family and friends. Gladys was very connected to her German, Russian and Canadian heritage and as an active member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia attending many an annual meeting and convention.Her independence was admirable. We will always remember her fierce self determination to live her life as she chose, fearlessness to express her opinions and advocate for many causes, especially when it came to the love of her Redwood tree (one of the tallest in the city) and ‘Save the Redwoods’. She was dedicated to her colleagues, friends and her family; her husband, her children and unconditional love and pride towards her grandchildren. Even right up to the night before her passing, she continued to express her care, concern and deep love for her family. Gladys’ Memorial Service will be held Friday, April 29th at 1000 at Wesley United Methodist Church at 470 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA. A viewing will be held just prior, from 900-1000. A graveside Committal service will follow the Memorial service where she will be laid to rest at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Gladys’ Life reception at Skylawn at approximately at 100 pm, following the internment. Flowers or memorial donation suggestions include Save the Redwoods or the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.Flowers or Memorial donation suggestions include either the Save the Redwoods League or the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.1) Save the Redwoods League. Phone: (415) 820-5800 or (888) 836-0005 (toll free)All the Ways to GiveMake an Honor Gift or Plant a Seedling Gift to the League you can have a redwood seedling planted in a California forest where it is needed most or give a gift in honor or memory of a loved one to benefit all of our critical work for the redwoods.2) AHSGR – American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. (402) 474-3363. The Memorial Fund link – http://www.ahsgr.org/?page=MemorialFund: For those who want to honor a family member, friend, or associate who has passed away by giving a financial gift to AHSGR. It is a special way to remember this person and provides a tangible way to honor our loved ones.For our family and friends who will be traveling to attend services, we recommend booking lodging in the area of Palo Alto, 94306. Suggested locations: Glass Slipper Inn, Coronet Motel, Creekside Inn, Stanford Terrace and Hotel California.
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