Gladys Thankachan

Gladys Thankachan, loving wife, mother and grandmother went to be with the Lord on Tuesday May 18th at 8.30 a.m. after succumbing to lung cancer complicated by pneumonia. Gladys, lovingly known as Molly was surrounded by her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and niece in the hospital room during her last moments.

Gladys was born on January 25, 1951, as the first born to Dr. M. C. George Sastry and Mary George (Eapan) in Kerala. She enjoyed her childhood living in various parts of India with her parents and four siblings, while actively participating in her parents Ministry and Missionary efforts. After finishing her high school in Nicholson Girls High School, Thiruvalla, she went on to Women’s College, Trivandrum and received her Botany Degree followed by multiple Masters degrees. During this time she Married and had her first born son and went on to the United States to pursue her MSW and later a PhD in Gerontology at Bryn Mawr College. Lately she again added EdD to her educational achievements.

Her career legacy is in the hearts and memories of the tens of thousands of residents, their families, and staff during her 40 years of work in elder care. The change she brought to the industry, emphasizing the Dignity of the elderly is immeasurable and the source of her greatest personal pride in her work.

Gladys’ Faith in Christ gave her the strength to go through life with love and joy. Always a person of great Faith, since giving her testimony and coming to Christ at the age of 10, she brought Christ in to the lives of her family, children, and grandchildren. She taught us to live our lives with the knowledge that we are “Abundantly blessed by God.” During her final hours she was “curious to see what’s next,” in her words and passed with the same Dignity and Grace that she gave to others.

Gladys was preceded in death by her mother, in 1971 while she was still young and took over motherly duties for her five siblings at the age of 19 yrs., herself. Her father passed away in 2007. She is survived by her Husband Peter Thankachan, son Danny Thankachan, daughter Delcie Thankachan, daughter-in-law Manu Danny and her precious grandchildren Daya, Laya and Leo.