Gladys (nee Fussel) Tkachick

Gladys Tkachick, 95, of Downingtown, PA entered the arms of our Lord having passed peacefully at the Neighborhood Health Hospice in West Chester, PA Thursday, June 30, 2016.  Gladys  [Joy to all who knew her] is survived by her loving son, Robert and his wife, Susan, of Newark, DE.  

Joy was predeceased by her husband and life companion Emil “Chick”, and two sons, Peter and David.  

Joy was ahead of the trends in so many areas.  Well before women’s liberation, Joy worked as an accountant for one of the largest produce distribution centers in South Florida, owned her own beauty shop in Miami and was on the Miami Civic Association long before it was acceptable for women to work outside the home.  Joy served the war effort working in the Civilian Air Corp managing the inventory and supplies for the local air force base.  She also traveled on her own, cross country by car several times well before the interstate system was created.  Joy and Chick and their family lived in Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Hawaii, and eventually were captivated by the people and places in Pennsylvania where they put down roots for a lifetime.  

Joy started antique collecting and thrift shopping long before those were common practices and became a mostly “stay at home” housewife first living in Eagle and then moving to East Brandywine Township.  Joy became very involved in the treatment, care and education of special needs children when David was diagnosed as “brain damaged” from birth.  The patterning program created by the Center for the Advancement of Human Potential turned the Tkachick home into a hub of community service as over 200 volunteers a week came every hour to assist in helping “train” David to learn through programming of new neural pathways.  As David grew and was eligible for schooling at the Chester County Intermediate Unit, Joy took a job as a teacher’s  aide to help other children to learn and grow.  For years Joy had been active working with special needs parents and children in Southeast PA – especially here at Hopewell Church.  Anyone who knew Joy – and many who didn’t – knew that she was an evangelist and spokesperson for Christ.  Given the opportunity, she would share her story and the need to lead a purpose driven life in the Lord’s work.

 A memorial service for friends of the family will be held 11 AM Saturday, 27 AUG at Hopewell Methodist Church followed by the time of fellowship.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Hopewell Church in memory of Joy and Chick.