Gladys Engblom Lefebvre

Gladys Engblom Lefebvre, 91, died on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at Willow Valley. She was born in Valley Stream, NY, the daughter of the late Olaf and Emily Fredrickson Engblom. Gladys was married to the late Reverend Eugene F. Lefebvre for 66 years. Gladys was a graduate of Central Valley High School in Valley Stream, NY. When her husband had his pastoral calling to join St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in (Roxborough) Philadelphia, PA, they served the congregation faithfully for 32 years (1960-92) where she also taught preschool and kindergarten. She also worked at Intercommunity Action in Roxborough that provides behavioral health services and support for people with intellectual and development disabilities. Additionally, she worked as a Legal Secretary for the law firm of Raymond McGill and the Law Offices of Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell and Hippel. When her husband retired and they moved to San Diego, she served as President of the House of Sweden, a part of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Balboa Park, CA. They relocated to the Willow Valley Communities, Lancaster, PA in 2003. Gene and Gladys were lovers of travel and of fine foods and they were able to combine those passions by taking more than 50 cruises in all parts of the world. They passed on those passions to their sons as well. Gladys was a voracious reader and loved reading Harry Potter books with her grandchildren. They admired her ability to talk the talk with those books. Cooking Swedish dishes was a favorite pastime. Gladys is survived by two sons, Craig Lefebvre, husband of Doreen, Sedona, AZ and Gene Lefebvre, husband of Denise, Torrance, CA; her two grandchildren, Nic Lefebvre and Ali Parnell, wife of Paul; and great-grandchildren, Asher and Aiden. She was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey. Friends and family are invited to A Rite of Christian Burial that will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church - Roxborough, 5720 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128 with the Rev. Richard Bauer officiating. Interment will take place after the service in St. Timothy’s Churchyard.