Obituary for Glen Joseph "G" Gairey Sr.
Glen J. Gairey, Sr. was born on June 5, 1933, in Jamaica West Indies, to the late Zachariah and Lillian Gairey. He departed this life on Friday, November 20, 2020 following a long illness.
Glen was educated in the Jamaica West Indies Schools system through High School. He decided to leave his occupation as a Police Officer behind in his native Jamaica and to marry his pen pal sweetheart on New Year's Day.
Glen married Mildred E. Gairey (nee Spann) on the beautiful island of Jamaica in 1961. They chose the close-knit, family friendly community of Elmsford, NY to raise their three children: Glen J. Gairey, Jr., Charlene L. Gairey, and Darren E. Gairey.
Mr. Gairey was no stranger to hard work. Once they settled in Elmsford, he worked several entrepreneurial odd jobs while at the same time worked for Frank Novelty Company for 25 years until the business was about to close. He then purchased the company along with a few co-workers in 1986 and renamed it Glenstrong & Company Novelty, Inc. a manufacturer of religious gift items, where he served as President. When he retired from that business, he worked in security at Union Hospital in Port Chester and then Blythedale Children's Hospital until his final retirement.
Upon his retirement in 2011, it was clear that Glen was respected and admired by his co-workers. And while retired, Glen continued sharing his love of fishing, playing Dominos, gardening and cooking throughout the harvest seasons with his children and friends and delivering vegetables from his garden to neighbors. Glen also never forgot about his family and home church in Jamaica, where he was affectionately known as "G", and always sent barrels of goods and funds on a regular basis. Often when Glen, Charlene or Darren could not find an item they had not seen or used in a while; they knew that it was most likely on its way to Jamaica. He also provided financial assistance to kids in his hometown who could not afford the cost of college on their own.
The blessing is that Glen and Millie are together now. As in life and now in the after-life, they continue to shower their children with love, help guide the steps of their grandchildren, great grandchild and encourage their extended family and faithful friends to continue being a blessing to all.
Glen is predeceased by his parents, Zachariah and Lillian Gairey, wife Mildred Spann Gairey, Brother Ansel Gairey and Sister Eva Gairey. He is survived by his children Glen J. Gairey, Jr (Lisa), Valley Stream, NY; Charlene L. Gairey, White Plains, NY; Darren E. Gairey, Elmsford, NY; Niece, Dana (Mark) Newell, Greenville, NC; Grandchildren, Bria D. Williams, Ellicott City, MD; Jordan T. Gairey, Valley Stream, NY; Jada E. Gairey, Valley Stream, NY; Makayla D. Gairey, Elmsford, NY; Great Grandchild Bella Williams. Ellicott City, MD; "Brother" Winston "Roy" Christie (Cora), New Rochelle, NY; Sisters-in-law Hattie Mae Lowe, Charleston, SC; Patricia Cunningham Jenkins Moorman, Mt. Vernon, NY; Margaret Grant, Charleston, SC; Brother-in-law Leon Benton, Savannah, GA; and a many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
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ATTENTION: During this COVID-19 crisis, as we slowly begin to phase back into small capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting and controlling the number of people inside the funeral home AND cemetery. WE HAVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICES THIS WEDNEDAY 11/25 - PLEASE READ IN DETAIL BELOW BEFORE EVEN ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND ANYTHING PLEASE! Thank you so kindly!
ALL seating for the visitation/wake on Wed., 11/25 is by invitation of the family explicitly only. What IS being ALLOWED for others, however, is a constant stream of attendees, in groups of two (2), to just BRIEFLY do a 'walk through visitation', give their respects and leave, during the 10:30AM-12:30PM TIME period ONLY. So during that time period, in groups of 2 with your masks on, you will be allowed to come to the front door, get hand sanitizer, sign the contact list/release, sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen), walk through to offer any brief condolence to the family keeping social distance (NO touching/hugging/handshaking, ONLY elbow bumping briefly if at all), briefly view, and then immediately leave the building & premises if you've not been extended an invitation to sit & stay (you will literally be in the funeral home for a few minutes or less). Once 12:25PM comes, NO one else will be admitted and ALL not assigned a seat must leave the funeral home & vicinity. The Funeral Service itself is for INVITED attendees of the family explicitly only. But the family has created a ZOOM, that you may contact them to get the information for viewing the service. PRIVATE cremation was held immediately after the PRIVATE Funeral Service, NO attendees at all. But then his cremains will be buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY on Wed. 12/2/2020. So on Wed. 12/2/20 you may meet us at Kensico Cemetery's office at 1:00pm, for the burial of his cremains. There is a limited maximum capacity at Kensico of 50 people though, which includes all family, clergy, & funeral home staff, as well as friends. So if you would like to & definitely plan to attend the graveside service for burial of his cremains on 12/2, please inform the family and/or funeral home of your intent by/before 12/1 so you can be part of the allowed count & told it's OK for you to attend. Once at capacity though, NO more RSVP's will be accepted. Please follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & NYS law, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.
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You MUST come to the funeral home & cemetery wearing a mask, & wear a mask inside the funeral home & at cemetery at all times. You must use hand sanitizer upon entering the funeral home. If you know you have a coronovirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronovirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, are under an imposed or advised quarantine, and/or are visiting from a state that requires you to quarantine upon entering NY for a designated amount of time before going out in public and you have not gotten an exemption, please do NOT attend any services nor come into the funeral home nor to the cemetery. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing our contact list/release & the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home and/or cemetery staff/personnel at ALL times, for the health & safety of All. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Glen J. Gairey, Sr, entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Gairey family during their time of bereavement.
Please leave written and/or video condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book if not able to sign in person.
As a lasting tribute, In lieu of flowers, the family will be creating a scholarship in his name to assist children in his home town in Jamaica with the means to attend college, so you may wait & consider making a contribution in his name/memory/honor there please (information soon forthcoming). If you send flowers despite the family's request, they may be delivered either on Wed. Nov. 25th, 2020 by/before 10:30AM to Lee's Funeral Home, or Tues. Dec. 1st by/before 6:00PM latest, to Lee's Funeral Home. Thank you!
Glen was educated in the Jamaica West Indies Schools system through High School. He decided to leave his occupation as a Police Officer behind in his native Jamaica and to marry his pen pal sweetheart on New Year's Day.
Glen married Mildred E. Gairey (nee Spann) on the beautiful island of Jamaica in 1961. They chose the close-knit, family friendly community of Elmsford, NY to raise their three children: Glen J. Gairey, Jr., Charlene L. Gairey, and Darren E. Gairey.
Mr. Gairey was no stranger to hard work. Once they settled in Elmsford, he worked several entrepreneurial odd jobs while at the same time worked for Frank Novelty Company for 25 years until the business was about to close. He then purchased the company along with a few co-workers in 1986 and renamed it Glenstrong & Company Novelty, Inc. a manufacturer of religious gift items, where he served as President. When he retired from that business, he worked in security at Union Hospital in Port Chester and then Blythedale Children's Hospital until his final retirement.
Upon his retirement in 2011, it was clear that Glen was respected and admired by his co-workers. And while retired, Glen continued sharing his love of fishing, playing Dominos, gardening and cooking throughout the harvest seasons with his children and friends and delivering vegetables from his garden to neighbors. Glen also never forgot about his family and home church in Jamaica, where he was affectionately known as "G", and always sent barrels of goods and funds on a regular basis. Often when Glen, Charlene or Darren could not find an item they had not seen or used in a while; they knew that it was most likely on its way to Jamaica. He also provided financial assistance to kids in his hometown who could not afford the cost of college on their own.
The blessing is that Glen and Millie are together now. As in life and now in the after-life, they continue to shower their children with love, help guide the steps of their grandchildren, great grandchild and encourage their extended family and faithful friends to continue being a blessing to all.
Glen is predeceased by his parents, Zachariah and Lillian Gairey, wife Mildred Spann Gairey, Brother Ansel Gairey and Sister Eva Gairey. He is survived by his children Glen J. Gairey, Jr (Lisa), Valley Stream, NY; Charlene L. Gairey, White Plains, NY; Darren E. Gairey, Elmsford, NY; Niece, Dana (Mark) Newell, Greenville, NC; Grandchildren, Bria D. Williams, Ellicott City, MD; Jordan T. Gairey, Valley Stream, NY; Jada E. Gairey, Valley Stream, NY; Makayla D. Gairey, Elmsford, NY; Great Grandchild Bella Williams. Ellicott City, MD; "Brother" Winston "Roy" Christie (Cora), New Rochelle, NY; Sisters-in-law Hattie Mae Lowe, Charleston, SC; Patricia Cunningham Jenkins Moorman, Mt. Vernon, NY; Margaret Grant, Charleston, SC; Brother-in-law Leon Benton, Savannah, GA; and a many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATTENTION: During this COVID-19 crisis, as we slowly begin to phase back into small capacity public visitations/services, we need your help in limiting and controlling the number of people inside the funeral home AND cemetery. WE HAVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICES THIS WEDNEDAY 11/25 - PLEASE READ IN DETAIL BELOW BEFORE EVEN ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND ANYTHING PLEASE! Thank you so kindly!
ALL seating for the visitation/wake on Wed., 11/25 is by invitation of the family explicitly only. What IS being ALLOWED for others, however, is a constant stream of attendees, in groups of two (2), to just BRIEFLY do a 'walk through visitation', give their respects and leave, during the 10:30AM-12:30PM TIME period ONLY. So during that time period, in groups of 2 with your masks on, you will be allowed to come to the front door, get hand sanitizer, sign the contact list/release, sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen), walk through to offer any brief condolence to the family keeping social distance (NO touching/hugging/handshaking, ONLY elbow bumping briefly if at all), briefly view, and then immediately leave the building & premises if you've not been extended an invitation to sit & stay (you will literally be in the funeral home for a few minutes or less). Once 12:25PM comes, NO one else will be admitted and ALL not assigned a seat must leave the funeral home & vicinity. The Funeral Service itself is for INVITED attendees of the family explicitly only. But the family has created a ZOOM, that you may contact them to get the information for viewing the service. PRIVATE cremation was held immediately after the PRIVATE Funeral Service, NO attendees at all. But then his cremains will be buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY on Wed. 12/2/2020. So on Wed. 12/2/20 you may meet us at Kensico Cemetery's office at 1:00pm, for the burial of his cremains. There is a limited maximum capacity at Kensico of 50 people though, which includes all family, clergy, & funeral home staff, as well as friends. So if you would like to & definitely plan to attend the graveside service for burial of his cremains on 12/2, please inform the family and/or funeral home of your intent by/before 12/1 so you can be part of the allowed count & told it's OK for you to attend. Once at capacity though, NO more RSVP's will be accepted. Please follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & NYS law, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You MUST come to the funeral home & cemetery wearing a mask, & wear a mask inside the funeral home & at cemetery at all times. You must use hand sanitizer upon entering the funeral home. If you know you have a coronovirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronovirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, are under an imposed or advised quarantine, and/or are visiting from a state that requires you to quarantine upon entering NY for a designated amount of time before going out in public and you have not gotten an exemption, please do NOT attend any services nor come into the funeral home nor to the cemetery. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing our contact list/release & the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home and/or cemetery staff/personnel at ALL times, for the health & safety of All. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Glen J. Gairey, Sr, entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Gairey family during their time of bereavement.
Please leave written and/or video condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book if not able to sign in person.
As a lasting tribute, In lieu of flowers, the family will be creating a scholarship in his name to assist children in his home town in Jamaica with the means to attend college, so you may wait & consider making a contribution in his name/memory/honor there please (information soon forthcoming). If you send flowers despite the family's request, they may be delivered either on Wed. Nov. 25th, 2020 by/before 10:30AM to Lee's Funeral Home, or Tues. Dec. 1st by/before 6:00PM latest, to Lee's Funeral Home. Thank you!