Gladys Anne Solakian

Solakian, Gladys A. Gladys A. Solakian (nee Decker) passed away peacefully at the age of 81, on May 26, 2022, at Zilber Hospice with her daughter at her side after a long battle with cancer. She was blessed to have been at home with her loving children as her caregivers and many visiting dear friends until her last 12 hours. Gladys was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on August 6, 1940, to Dr. John Joseph Decker and Ruth Laing Decker (nee Gibb). Her father passed away after a car accident when Gladys was just four months old. When Gladys was three years old, she and her mother moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where she spent the remainder of her childhood on E. Johnson St. After graduating from Madison East High School, Gladys attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. Upon graduation from college, Gladys moved to Racine, Wisconsin for her first job as an art teacher at Starbuck Junior High School. It was at Starbuck that she met her now ex-husband, but continued dear friend, Harry Solakian, who was also a teacher. Gladys and Harry raised their four children in Racine. After being a stay-at-home-mom until her first born was 12 years of age, Gladys re-entered the work force and did various jobs until she moved to Milwaukee and found the career that she loved as a hearing aid consultant. For 25 years, Gladys helped people restore their hearing and loved seeing her clients' eyes and that of their families' light up when they could hear again. In mid-life two of her sons introduced Gladys to the world of fly fishing and all the wonderful people that came with it. She cherished her time on the water during her memorable trips out west and to Alaska. But her favorite place was on the West Fork of the Kickapoo River in western Wisconsin where she placed a cabin that became a second home to family and friends. For over 20 years countless memories were formed on the trails and streams, on the deck, around the grill and table and during after-dinner gatherings that went on until eyes grew heavy. Most of all, Gladys lived for her beloved children and was a mamma bear until her last breath. Even in their 50's, she never ceased to be a strong presence in her children's lives, loving, guiding and comforting them. She was a best friend that will be terribly missed. Gladys was delighted to see her family grow with the addition of her much loved and cherished daughter-in-law, granddaughter and son-in-law, and her cup runneth over with her many dear friends, especially Bob Blumreich, Kay LaBelle, Carol Ward and Rosie Adams. Many people considered Gladys as a second mom and she considered them part of her family. Gladys was a faithful Catholic servant to Jesus and Mary and she had a special bond with St. Therese of Lisieux. She was a member of St. John Paul II Catholic Parrish in Milwaukee and a volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee. Upon retirement, she was blessed to be able to attend church services daily and started attending her Renew bible study group where she met dear and loving friends, especially Mary Samudio, Margaret Glembin and Mary Ann Wendlick. Gladys' strong faith and kind and loving soul compelled her to be kind to all and to see when someone was suffering. Her prayer list grew longer and longer and included many strangers who didn't know she was praying for them daily. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her ex-father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sarkis and Filore “Florence” Solakian and ex-brother-in-law, George Solakian. She is survived in life by her four children, Sarkis "Sam" (Stacey), John (David), Joseph "Joe" and Catherine Solakian, her granddaughter, Eleanor Solakian, her ex-husband, Harry, as well as many other dear friends too countless to name. A visitation will be held Monday, June 6, 2022, from 9:30 - 11 a.m., with funeral services to follow at 11 a.m., at St. Helen's Catholic Church, 3329 S. 10th St., Milwaukee, WI 53215. Private internment will be held at a later date at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Madison, WI. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Helen's Catholic Church or St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee, P.O. Box 26537, Milwaukee, WI 53226, http://www.svdpmilw.org.