Gladys Kuhlthau Christ

Gladys Kuhlthau Christ of Monroe Township, New Jersey passed away at home on the morning of December 26^th, at 102.

Gladys was born April 16th 1921 to Edwin and Stella (Booraem) Kulthau in Milltown, NJ and spent most of her childhood there. The Kuhlthaus and the Booraems were two of the founding families of the town. She lived at the “Big House”, which is now Crabiel Funeral Home. She attended Milltown Public Schools and New Brunswick High School, graduating in 1938/39?.  

After graduating from NBHS, she attended Douglass University, when it was still called the New Jersey College for Women, and earned a degree in Psychology. She later worked in the admissions office at Rutgers University, responding to the large influx of applications after the GI bill was introduced after WWII. She returned to Douglass to earn a Masters degree in Education, not because she wanted to be a teacher, but because she craved adult interaction with two small children at home.

She met Earl H. Christ, her husband of 60+ years while in high school and they were married in March of 1943.  They had 3 children: Gary, Gail and Scott, whom they raised in Milltown. She ran the Pink and Blue Shop with her mother, as Earl and her father ran the Jane Logan, a luncheonette. She taught elementary school for several years until her hearing worsened and she became a guidance counselor at East Brunswick Vo-Tech, which was the highlight of her working years. She retired in her early 50s and she and Earl moved to sunny Florida, where they enjoyed a long and happy retirement in New Port Richey and Clearwater, Florida with a full social calendar. She said these years were some of her happiest. They moved back to New Jersey to the Rossmoor retirement community in Monroe, NJ, when Earl’s health began to fail.

The world events and things she had seen! While being interviewed for a Storyworth book/memoir, she spoke of the history of Milltown, her childhood (where she swore, she never broke any rules and never got in trouble!), the Great Depression, World War II, her many marriage proposals, time with best friends/family in NJ and Florida, and trips with her family and Earl.

She had many memories of her Grandmother Booraem’s family farm in Philmont, NY, where she spent a lot of time as both a child and an adult. Her grandmother bought it to escape the Polio outbreak and Glady spent weekends and summers there with her first cousins and even attended the local high school for a time. She had detailed, lovely memories of her time spent there. When the family first owned it, there was no inside plumbing or electricity and she and her cousins helped the women with the chores around the farm, as the men of the family worked back in NJ during the week. As an adult, she brought her own children there until it was sold in the 1970s. Her and Earl also had a vacation home in Hemlock Farms, PA for a time, where more memories were made.

Glady enjoyed playing cards, especially Bridge, which she played until she turned 100. She had an amazing sense of humor and was very funny herself. She had an amazing memory and could remember the names of friends, colleagues and former students. She was super-smart, and although not religious, had a very high moral compass.  Her children and grandchildren would get a “grammy face” when someone made an off-color remark.

She had many names:  Gladys, Glady by those that knew her well, Dally (her sister Haze’s nickname for her), Mom and Mommy, Grammy to her grandchildren, Nana and Nanny to her great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents, Edwin and Stella Kuhlthau, her baby brother, Jackie, her sister Hazel and brother-in-law Don, her husband, Earl, sons Gary and Scott, son-in-law Vinnie, and  daughter-in-law, Rita. She is survived by her daughter Gail Christ Piccirillo of Monroe; grandchildren Tracy Walz Wilton and her husband James of Waxhaw, NC; Marcy Walz Haley and her husband John of South Brunswick; Lisa Christ Kressler and her husband Ed of Chatham; Leigh Christ of Robbinsville; Jeremy Christ and his wife Christine of Charlotte, NC; Zachary Christ and his wife, Kristy of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; great-grandchildren Connor, Kyle, and Delaney Kressler; Jack, Carley, and Lola Wilton; Zoe Haley; Cameron and Kossler Christ; and Layla and Liam Christ.  She also had many nieces and nephews who loved her as well.

There will be a celebration of life held at the Rossmoor Clubhouse, Rossmoor Community, Rossmoor Drive, Monroe Township, NJ on Sunday, January 14^th from 12-3:00.  The family will have a casual memorial service, light lunch, and a time to share any stories you shared with Glady. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Hearing Loss Association of America (https://www.hearingloss.org/).

Arrangements are by The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N Main St.-at Riva Avenue, Milltown, NJ.  You may sign the online condolence "guestbook" at www.crabiel.com .