CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

Gwen A. Reed

Gwen lived her life filled with music, faith, family, and kindness. To know her was to love her, and to be taught by her was to never forget her. She was the kind of person who led by example: selfless, giving, and always thoughtful. She had an uncanny ability to know when someone needed something, whether it was a kind word, a listening ear, or one of her famous pb&j sandwiches.

At a time when few women went to college, Gwen graduated from West Chester University with her degree in Education. She was a proud member of the American Association of University Women, and she traveled widely, exploring Jerusalem, Greece, France, England, and Palestine. Right after college, she took a train across America into Canada to see the Canadian Rockies with her college roommate, Joan Winters. Gwen dedicated her career to teaching music, sharing her passion and talent with generations of students. She taught in a couple of different school districts before finding her place at the Edgewater Park schools, where she’d spend 14 years before retiring. Beyond the classroom, she was the beloved choir director at Beverly Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years. She was deeply rooted in her church community, teaching Sunday school, guiding the choir, and giving piano lessons to anyone who wanted to learn.

Her story of love began when the late Josiah first saw her at his cousin’s Christmas performance. She was the cute music teacher, and from that moment, he was smitten. They married, built a life together, and raised their two children in Edgewater Park, where their home of 65 years remains filled with family memories. She and Josiah were especially close with their neighbors in their younger years, hosting parties and creating friendships. Gwen and Josiah, both teachers, never worked at the same school, but they shared summers full of joy. Days spent with their children at Trident Swim Club, and vacations to Ocean City and Wildwood. Ocean City held a special place in Gwen’s heart; she had spent her younger years there, working at Shriver’s Taffy, and in her final days, she returned there with her children by her side.

At home, Gwen cherished simple joys: playing piano, reading, chatting on the phone with her brother, sister, and many friends. For several decades she held season tickets to the Walnut Street Theater where she enjoyed live performances of plays and musicals.

Gwen is predeceased by her husband Josiah. She is survived by her children Josiah Reed Jr (Karen), William “Scott” Reed, her grandchildren Kirsten Noel Reed (Mathew) and Hannah Mariah Reed-Fisher (Ashton), and her siblings William Hornung Fischer and Evelyn Denise Timlin, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Come celebrate 94 great years at the Beverly Presbyterian Church, 121 Warren Street East, Edgewater Park, NJ, 08010 on Thursday August 28th from 6-8pm and again on Friday August 29th from 10-11am where there will be an 11am service at the Beverly Presbyterian Church. Interment immediately to follow at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Beverly Presbyterian Church: PO Box 500, Beverly, NJ, 08010 or directly at https://giving.myamplify.io//app/giving/beve121217