Gladys E. Pestana

Gladys E. Pestana died on March 11, 2009 at the Hunt Community, Nashua, New Hampshire at the age of 105. She was born in Roslindale, Massachusetts on May 22, 1903, the daughter of Charles and Katherine Schmitt. In 1925 she married J. Justin Pestana, Sr., who predeceased her in 1964. In 1938 Gladys and her husband moved to Amherst, New Hampshire where they purchased the former Hayward Farm on Walnut Hill Road. Gladys lived there until retiring to the Hunt Community in 1998. It was at her Walnut Hill Road farm where she and her husband founded J.P. Chemical Company, now known as JP Pest Services. As a resident of Amherst, Gladys was a member of the Amherst Congregational Church for over 65 years, a charter member of the Amherst Historical Society and a member of the Amherst Woman�s Club. In 2004 the Town of Amherst awarded Gladys the Boston Post Cane. Gladys was a long time member of the Puritan Chapter of Eastern Star and a former Worthy Matron. For many years, Gladys, along with her two daughters owned, and operated the Carriage Shed Antique shop on Walnut Hill. In addition to her husband, Gladys was predeceased by her son, J. Justin Pestana, of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, who died in June 2005, and her grandson, Ralph E. Smith, III, of Stockholm, Maine who died in September 2007. Members of Gladys� family include her daughter, Arlene R. Smith of Saint Petersburg, Florida, her daughter and son-in-law, Jean and David Campbell of Cincinnati, Ohio, her daughter-in-law, Paula Pestana, of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, her grandchildren, Susan Brennan, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Deborah J. Fujji of Los Angeles California, Leslie Smith of Manchester, New Hampshire, Pamela Harris, of Cypress, Texas, J. Joseph Pestana, of Bedford, New Hampshire and Christopher Pestana of Brookline, New Hampshire. Gladys also leaves behind 11 great-grandchildren and 8 great, great, grandchildren. Funeral services will be private and there will be no calling hours. Those who wish may make a memorial contribution in her name to Hunt Community, 10 Allds Street, Nashua, New Hampshire 03060. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Hunt Community for the loving and excellent care they gave to Gladys.