Jeanette R. Gladstone

Jeanette Gladstone, almost 91, died at her home in Ithaca, New York on January 22, 2012. Jeanette is survived by her daughter Andi Gladstone (Yvonne Fisher), her son-in-law Art Ellison, her grandson Jeremy Ellison-Gladstone (Samantha Gross), her granddaughter Anna Bates (Brian Bates), and her great grandson Camden Arthur Bates. Jeanette is pre-deceased by her beloved daughter, Susan Gladstone (1944-1992), and her husband of 65 years, Jim Gladstone, who was the love of her life.

Jeanette was born in West Hartford, Connecticut on January 30, 1921 and lived there until she moved to Ithaca to be with her daughter, Andi, in 2003. Throughout her life Jeanette had many interests and strong opinions. At the age of 43 she enrolled in the University of Hartford and graduated with a BA in English 5 years later. She was a master cook, always nurturing family and friends with abundant meals lit up by homemade, hot bread. She loved sewing, knitting, quilting, bird-watching, gardening, tennis, golf, theater, the ocean, and all animals. From the early 1960’s she marched for civil rights, for nuclear disarmament, against all the wars, for social justice, for women’s rights, for gay rights, for AIDS action, and for protecting the environment.

Jeanette had great joy and much heartbreak in her life. She worked hard at both, always trying to improve, always trying to find a way through, always looking for a new approach: she was a seeker.

In her last years, when she felt trapped in a body that no longer worked for her, when she was ready to die but couldn’t, Jeanette became a strong believer in the Right to Die Movement. She called this last period of unwanted days her farshlepte krenk (endlessly long, drawn-out illness) and hoped that one day there would be right to die laws in all states.

After a full and complicated life, in the end, what made Jeanette happy was loving time with her family, joyful visits from her devoted dogs (Baxter and Bucky Gladstone, Lily Rumsey), flowers everywhere, the wonderful people who helped care for her, and sunlight.

Jeanette’s family wants to thank Bonnalee Vann and Jeanette’s entire cadre of gifted caregivers for so lovingly shepherding Jeanette through her long trek (shlep) to the finish line. Each day they showed Jeanette and Andi that, even in this difficult world, there is such amazing kindness and generosity.

There will be a private ceremony for Jeanette next summer by the ocean.

The family requests that anyone who wants to can make a donation in Jeanette’s memory to: Compassion & Choices of New York, 244 Fifth Ave. #2010, New York, NY 10001-7604; or Cayuga Dog Rescue, P.O. Box 4942, Ithaca, NY 14852; or Frack Action, 28 Marcy Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211