Gladys L. Hasbrouck

Gladys Lillian Blessing Hasbrouck, 100 years old, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 17, 2022, at the E.L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility surrounded by people who loved and cared for her. She lived most of her life in the Town of Princetown where she was born, married, raised her children, enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren until the age of 96.

Born on February 10, 1922 on Darrow Road, she was the second daughter of Millard and Myrtle Blessing. Her sister Ruth was two years older than she and her brother M.Wayne was 15 years younger than her.

She often said her most favorite childhood memories are those spent on the Featherstonhaugh Farm with her parents and sister when her father was a farmhand there.

Gladys attended grammar school in Duanesburg (where NBT Bank currently resides) and a one room schoolhouse (District No. 7) on Pangburn Rd in Princetown. She graduated as an honors student from Draper High School in 1939.

After high school, Gladys was employed as a clerk and secretary by GE during WWII, and in later years by Schenectady Savings Bank under the supervision of Wallace Campbell.

Gladys married her husband, Melvin ‘Bing’ Hasbrouck on October 24, 1942 at the age of 20. They had a small ceremony (as it was war time) and a honeymoon in New York City. Bing and Gladys were the proud parents of two sons, Neil and Paul.

Gladys often reminisced about great times with the McClaine family camping at Raquette Lake and their adventures during turkey season. She also enjoyed reformed church women’s trips to the Crystal Cathedral in CA and Holland, MI.

She was a lifelong member of Princetown Reformed Church where she was active in many groups including women’s ministries and assisted in starting the children’s nursery. During her stay at Wilkinson, she was visited by and enjoyed the music of her friends from Marilyn’s Ministries.  She was also a member of the Hourglass Princetown Seniors.

She can be remembered in her later years walking the neighborhood for exercise delivering homemade chocolate jumbles, molasses cookies, her famous cake waffles and pie to neighbors, family and friends, hosting family for holidays and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Gladys was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Melvin ‘Bing’ Hasbrouck, her sister Ruth Gemlick, her brother-in-law Ray, and her son Neil A. Hasbrouck.

Gladys is survived by her son Paul M. Hasbrouck (Catherine), her granddaughter Melanie Whiteley (Christopher), grandson Jeremy Hasbrouck (Julie), and her granddaughter Julianne. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Erin, Preston, Emma, Alex, Owen, and Elizabeth.

In addition, Gladys is survived by her brother, M. Wayne Blessing, nephews, Jeffery Blessing (Elizabeth), Ryan Blessing and Kevin Blessing (Joann) and great nieces and nephews Blake, Alexander, Leah, Sadie and Freyja.

Many thanks go to the beloved staff at Wilkinson RHCF. Her family is forever grateful for the care, support and love you showed Gladys for the last 4+years.

Gladys will be greatly missed by many.

Family and Friends are invited to visit with Gladys’s family 10-11AM Saturday, October 22 in the Princetown Church (Formally the Princetown Reformed Church) 3662 Giffords Church Road, Duanesburg. A Funeral service will immediately follow at 11AM. Interment in Viewland Cemetery, Princetown.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Princetown Church or the Schenectady City Mission.