Gladys L. Brehm

Gladys L Brehm, 96, of Carlisle, PA, died Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Swain Health Center at Green Ridge Village in Newville, PA. She was born on September 16, 1929, in Marysville, PA. She was the only child of the late Boyd M Bitting and Ruth Ester (McCoy) Bitting. A loving wife for 59 years, Gladys was the widow of Arthur L Brehm. She is survived by her daughter Susan K Sheaffer of Newville, PA, her son Arthur L Brehm II of Plainfield, PA, seven grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Gladys went to Carlisle High School where she was a member of the marching band and graduated in 1946. A natural caregiver, in 1948, she completed her Licensed Practical Nurse training at one of the first nurses training classes at the Carlisle Hospital on Parker St, Carlisle. Retiring at age 70, she had a successful 50-year career working at the Carlisle Hospital and Alliance Nursing Home. With her patients, she was kind, compassionate, and nurturing yet approached their care with a resolute firmness.

In additional to her purposeful nature, Gladys loved the simple things in life – taking care of her family, sitting on the porch swing at the end of a long day, family dinners, window shopping, and word puzzles. She had a soft spot for animals and through the years, she shared her home with a number of dogs and cats. She also enjoyed vacationing at the family hunting camp in Mansfield, PA, walking in the woods, fishing with the kids, then grandkids.

Gladys was a parishioner of the Church of God in Plainfield, PA. Gladys had a determined spirit, and her family admires her strength and conviction.

A viewing will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 12:30 pm.-1:30 pm, followed by a funeral service officiated by Rev. Donald Snyder, at 1:30 pm, at Hoffman Funeral & Cremation, 2020 W Trindle Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013. Burial will take place at Westminster Cemetery immediately following the funeral service.