Gladys G. Thompson

Marie Huguette Gladys Guillaume Thompson, a longtime resident of Newark, NJ, passed away, peacefully, on June 12, 2022, at her home in Kissimmee, FL. She was 79. Born in Gonaïves, Haiti to the late Anne-Marie William and the Honorable Euvrard Guillaume, Gladys earned her associates degree at les Soeurs de la Sagesse in Port-au-Prince before returning to Gonaïves to teach French at two elementary schools. As a young woman, Gladys was a competent piano player and skilled at embroidery. A woman of faith, Gladys spent her early adult life in Port-au-Prince, Haiti until she immigrated in 1972 to the United States – where she ultimately settled in Newark to raise her family with her former husband, Adler Thompson, an employee of the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture. Prior to her retirement in 2009, she worked as a medical records technician at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ. Most, if not all, will remember Gladys as a warm and friendly woman with a beautiful smile. She had an open-door policy, welcoming many vacationers and recent arrivals immigrating from her beloved mother country, Haiti, to her home. An avid Scrabble player, Gladys enjoyed all types of music and had a particular love for chansonnette française. In addition to her parents, Gladys was predeceased by her brother, Edouard Guillaume. She is survived by her 3 children: Marjorie Sussman and her husband, Dr. Steven Sussman of New York, NY; Claudine Berti and her husband, Andrea Berti of Madison, NJ; and Adler A. Thompson and his wife, Rebeca Thompson of Kissimmee, FL; her beloved grandchildren: Sébastien Roland, Karl-Anthony Thompson, Logan Bilello, Hans Thompson, Ariel Thompson, Adele Thompson and Milo Berti; her siblings: Jocelyne Pinchinat, Antoine Joseph, Pierre-André Guillaume, Myrna Pinchinat, Réginald Guillaume, and Régine Guillaume Lormestoire; as well as her uncle Nordeus Pierre and many nieces and nephews. Gladys will be remembered for her many laudable attributes but most of all for her love for others. She was especially devoted to her children Adler, Marjorie and Claudine. She was an incredible mother who always supported her children’s dreams and aspirations. The family wishes to express gratitude to her caregivers over the years. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions can be made in Gladys’ name to Autism Families CONNECTicut , 600 N. Mountain Road, Newington, CT 06111 or to Cure Alzheimer's Fund , 34 Washington Street, Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a mass to celebrate Gladys’ life on Friday, June 24, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Saint Leo Church, 103 Myrtle Avenue, Irvington, NJ. They are also invited to a repast immediately after the service at McLoone’s Boathouse at 9 Cherry Lane, West Orange, NJ. For the safety of all, we respectfully request that all those attending the funeral service wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. In addition, while we would love to have you join us, if you have tested positive for COVID or are feeling unwell on Friday morning, please stay home and rest and we will see you another time. The service will be live streamed on YouTube and may be accessed from the Church’s website.