Gladys Sais

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Gladys Sais was called peacefully to her heavenly home and went into the arms of the Lord peacefully on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Sam Sais; infant daughter, Diane Sais; granddaughter, Regina Chavez Wyler; parents, Lorenzo and Clara Torres; and many other loved ones.

Gladys is survived by her son Fred Sais (Jessie); daughter Francine Sais Chavez; grandchildren: Carlos Sais, Michelle Sais, Crystal Sais, Julian Wyler (Shauna); great-grandchildren: Mya Lucero, Mila Lucero, Jacob Shea, Ryan Shea, Thomas Shea, Gabriel Wyler, Daniela Wyler, Samuel Wyler and Lorelei Mohammed.

Gladys was born on March 19, 1933, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She grew up in the Barelas Neighborhood and came from a family of eleven children. Her parents were diligent in providing for such a large family and from this she learned the benefits of hard work. They always had fun and never went hungry.  She had many good memories of the family as they gathered after dinner while her father read the bible; as they listened to the news on the radio; when they received oranges, bananas and nuts at Christmas; and countless adventures while visiting her grandparents. Gladys attended Albuquerque High School.

Gladys met the love of her life and best friend, Sam Sais. They married in October 1951 and moved to the Wells Park Neighborhood. They had three children. Gladys and Sam celebrated 70 years of marriage before Sam’s passing in January 2022. She was a good wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

She loved being a homemaker and she spent her life taking care of her family and the people around her.  Feeding people was her “love gift”.  She was an excellent cook and baker.  She was famous for her bizcochitos, tamales and chili rellenos.  She loved to entertain and host weekly visits with family and friends and large gatherings for birthdays, graduations, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and many, many other celebrations.  She took so much pride in her home and yard which was always immaculate.  She loved yard sales, shopping and especially grocery stores. She enjoyed traveling to the Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii and all over the United States by RV, car, plane, bus, train, helicopter and cruise ships.

Gladys and Sam were very active within the Wells Park Neighborhood and its Association; she was active at Reginald Chavez Elementary School for Halloween carnivals, Christmas festivities, Cinco de Mayo, and was known to all the school and neighborhood children as Grandma Gladys. She was also involved in the church fiestas, las posadas, birthdays, and many other events.  She always stood beside her husband and her family and their many endeavors and helped with anything that was thrown at her.

Gladys was a friend and mentor; she had a wonderful way of listening to people and offering words of wisdom. She lived her life in accordance with God’s plan as written in the bible: she worshipped God, she honored her parents; she was faithful to and stood by her husband; she raised her children in the way they should go; and she loved her neighbor. She gave so much to this world, was loved by many and will truly be missed.

Gladys' Life Celebration will begin with a Mass on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 9:00 am at Shrine of the Little Flower Church St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Catholic Church located at 3424 4th St. NW, 87107.  Gladys will be laid to rest following the Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery located at 1900 Edith Blvd, NE, 87102.

Pallbearers will be Carlos Sais, Gabriel Wyler, Samuel Wyler, Donald Gonzales, Joseph Gonzales and Luciano Sanchez, Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Daniela Wyler, Lorelei Mohammed, Mya Lucero, Mila Lucero, Jacob Shea, Ryan Shea, and Thomas Shea.

A special thanks to the many individuals from Presbyterian Hospice Group. Especially Galina, Adam, Therese, David, Chaplains Michelle and Fabian, who cared for and befriended Gladys for the last two and a half years.  Also, from St. Therese Church, thanks to Father Chavez who gave her the Last Rites, and to Antoinette and A.J. Lucero, who brought communion and the gospel of the Lord into her home on Sundays.