Gladys M. Trahey

Gladys Muth Trahey, 98, of Media, PA, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026.

Born in South Philadelphia on December 6, 1927, Gladys was the youngest child of Howard and Edna Muth. She grew up helping in her parents’ hardware store on the corner of 16th and Oregon. One of her first jobs was letting neighbors know they had a phone call at the store. She would often earn a penny for quickly running to their home to deliver the message. An active and social young person, she was on the basketball team and in the choir. She graduated from John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School in 1945 and had laid the foundation for two of the most important relationships in life—with her husband, John P. Trahey, and their closest friends, Tom and Bernice Kerrigan. Married to Jack on November 23, 1950, they began a vibrant and busy life together building a family, a few houses, and a cache of memories.

Gladys worked as a bank teller for a short time before stepping away to raise seven children beginning in 1951. An active participant in the Saint Anastasia Parish, she also enjoyed square dancing with the Diamond Square Club, bowling at Sproul Lanes each Wednesday morning, and helping Jack renovate houses. After raising their children, Gladys and Jack spent time traveling the world together—often with Tom and Bernice—visiting Australia, Alaska, Europe, and South America. They spent winters in Florida in their fancy RV and summers in Toms River, NJ. In 1995, they finally found a long-desired spot on the water in Toms River and began their last major house flip, renovating their dream shore home. For many years, the house at 138 Waldron overflowed each summer with their children, grandchildren, and friends. Her twice daily bike rides around the neighborhood continued up until last year.

Gladys is preceded in death by the love of her life Jack, as well as her parents, Howard and Edna, and her two siblings, Louis Muth and Doris O'Day. She is survived by her seven children: John (Karen), Michael (Nancy), Patrick (Linda), Timothy (Kimberly), Colleen (Daniel) Raftery, Kevin (Amy), Kathleen (Collin) Frisbie, 21 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gladys was a resilient and strong woman, adjusting to the twists and turns life threw at her. She spent many years of her life raising her large family and supporting and caring for Jack, yet always found time to plan adventurous trips, sit with a book, or go for a bike ride. She made new friends and adapted to new surroundings, and especially enjoyed her last few years at Wesley Enhanced Living, joining in exercise classes, eating dinner with friends, and playing Rummikub in the evenings. As she often said, she had nothing to complain about.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity of your choice. Relatives and friends are invited to St. Anastasia Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, for a viewing from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, Monday, May 4, 2026, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery.