Gladys M. (Spinola) Baptiste, 79, of Wareham, died February 20 in the Sippican Healthcare Center, Marion. She was the widow of the late Benjamin J. Baptiste and the daughter of the late Vincent and Alice (Rogers) Spinola.

She was born in Wareham and lived there all of her life.

Mrs. Baptiste worked as a housekeeper at Tobey Hospital and Wareham Medical Building for many years.

She was a communicant of St. Patrick’s Church. As a lifelong member of the Oakdale community and well-known by all, Gladys stood as an example of possibility one could achieve and overcome when faced with adversity. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early thirties in which she lost her sight and ability to walk. During the same timeframe she lost her husband as the result of natural causes. Her pride, courage, faith and unwillingness to be defeated allowed her to regain vision and the ability to walk to some degree. Often seen dancing next to her walker at a local event or pranking someone, she was seldom seen without a smile. For 48 years, Gladys was able to manage a home and assist in raising her two grandchildren all while battling the dreadful disease. Those that were blessed to know her have life lessons and stories that will carry on for generations.

Survivors include her daughter, Sharon Baptiste Gomes of Wareham; three brothers, Anthony, Thomas and Joseph Spinola all of Wareham; four sisters, Gloria Thatcher, Lillian McGruder of Wareham, Eloisa Spinola-Depina and Gabrielle Nancy Spinola of Boston; three grandchildren, Benjamin Baptiste, Carmen Baptiste, and Sonja Kirkland, all of Wareham; and seven great-grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Vincent Spinola Jr., Philip Spinola, Frances Sanchez and Lucy Senna.

Her funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High St., Wareham. Burial will be at a later date in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

Visiting hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

For directions and online guestbook, visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com.