Gladys Joan D'Antonio Guarino, 69, was born on August 17, 1949, in Carson C. Peck Memorial Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Gladys was preceded in death by her father, Albert John Palumbo and her siblings Nancy D'Antonio & Cosimo D'Antonio. She is survived by her loving family mother, Concetta "Connie" Palumbo,; siblings Elizabeth "Betty Ann" D'Antonio & Linda (Eddie) Gerry; children Gina (Keith) Eskow & John Guarino; grandchildren Sarah, Joshua & Justin Eskow; and an unconditionally, loving, and sidekick furgrandbaby, CoCo Chanel Eskow. As a young girl Gladys loved to dance. She was enrolled in ballet pointe classes and danced on her tippy toes often. She graduated in 1966 from Erasmus Hall High School. While a freshman, she was singing in the girls restroom at school when a senior with crossed eyes, tight curly hair and large nose walked over and told her, "You have a great voice!" That girl turned out to be Barbra Streisand! Gladys went on to excel in speedwriting, stenography and a multitude of administrative skills. These skills propelled her career at prestigious corporate firms such as American Express, Republic National Bank, Kings County Hospital and more along the way. Gladys' stories of her family's antics, excursions with friends, ladies nights out dancing at the after-hours and her children's shenanigans fueled her stories for decades and beyond. Gladys loved to dance, sing her favorite songs, cook for everyone, watch her favorite movies over and over and play board games and cards with family and friends. Gladys lived with her son John in Las Vegas after leaving New York in 1997 then moved to California in 2011 to love with her daughter Gina and family to help take care of her grandchildren. She cherished the time spent with family and friends and had fun until her health wouldn't let her enjoy the fun anymore. Gladys was visited and surrounded by her family and friends who loved and adored her when she left us to rest. Her memory will live on in us all, through the love, kindness, compassion and infectious mischievous smirk she had and gave to all. We will love, never forget and miss you for eternity and beyond, My Daughter, Our Mom, Our Grandma, Our Gladys, Our Beautiful...until we meet again. A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:00 am at St. Bernardine of Siena Catholic Church, 24410 Calvert Street, Woodland Hills, California. Immediately following will be a Celebration of Life, or as Gladys would pronounce it, (an "Af-tah Pah-tee") at the home of Gladys' daughter Gina, and family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gladys' memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital online at www.stjude.org. Please share your memories and stories of Gladys and condolences with her family below. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn.
