Daphne M. Glenn

Daphne Mayphil Glenn (Sparman) was born on May 12, 1937 in Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, British Guiana (Guyana) South America. Daphne was the 7^th of 8 children to Alice “Tilly” (deceased) and Goodluck Sparman (deceased).  She was the second oldest of three girls.

Daphne’s early school days began at Bethel Congregation school where she was a top performer including champion of spelling and she was also gifted with a beautiful voice.  She attended Tutorial High School in Georgetown where she continued to excel and then went to nursing school which lead her to pursue nursing as a lifelong passion. At nursing school, she met her best friend Barbara (Daphne), who coincidentally shared the same name as her.

In 1960 she had a double surprise in which Audrey (Patricia) and Aubrey (Patrick) were born in Guyana. Continually ambitious, she made the best for them and continued with her nursing.

She continued at Public Hospital Georgetown with a specialty as a midwife. It was there she got hands on experience which would then lead her to deliver her niece/god-daughter Jaqueline. While at the Georgetown hospital, she answered the call for a special nursing program in the United States.

In 1968, Daphne migrated to Brooklyn, NY where she continued her nursing career at Brooklyn Jewish/Interfaith hospital. At Interfaith she made many friends from all over the Caribbean including Jamaica, Trinidad, Panama, Philippines, and her home country of Guyana. Several of her friends became family and they would travel, and party together and also have cooking feasts while working the Intensive Care Unit, where Daphne was the Head Nurse/Supervisor. Daphne, a stickler for her “funds” and would participate in “su-su” or “box” and made sure she received her paper checks in hand, in which she would have her children function as couriers.

Daphne’s first trip “back home” was in 1969 and the following year she “sent away”  for Aubrey and Audrey to come to the United States with Daphne’s baby sister Yvonne as their chaperone.

On March 3, 1973 Daphne married Albert Glenn at Union Congregational Church in Harlem, NY in which Aubrey and Audrey were also participants as well as Daphne’s cousin Hazel (maid-of-honor) and was walked down the aisle by Cecil.

Daphne and Albert lived on St. John Place in Brooklyn and in 1974 had their daughter Rhonda, who was a twin image of Daphne. Because Rhonda resembled Daphne, they named Daphne as Rhonda’s middle name.

In 1976, Daphne, Albert and their family moved to a new development in Central Islip, New York in which Daphne continued to commute to Brooklyn for work.  She also became a member of the Guyanese Nursing Association of America.

Daphne truly enjoyed traveling and embracing difference cultures. Her travels took her all over the USA including Hawaii, Canada, China, England, South Africa, Australia, Trinidad, Panama, cruises to the Caribbean and more. She loved taking photos of each trip and shopping for souvenirs for her family and friends. She and Albert would have constant arguments on who is packing too much because she knew her bags would be overweight when coming back home. However, her favorite place of travel was back home to Guyana where she took pride in the upkeep of her family home, purchased a taxi van, entertained, and loved having her friends and family come and visit.

A lady of elegance, Daphne did everything with class including shopping for her outfits whether it be in store or through the many catalogs she subscribed to. When she went shopping in person for dresses she would touch them and say “This is nice” but if she saw something she didn’t like she would shoot straight and say “This is ugly”. Daphne loved to get dressed to the nines and had full closets including Albert’s of her clothes. During the pandemic, she truly missed shopping in person and eventually begged Rhonda and Aubrey to take her to the stores including a basic trip to Walmart to get the things she already had. When told she had it already, she would answer “So what, I want more” and then chuckle. Her cars were top notch and you would know “The Queen” was coming down the road as her license plate read “ Daphne G”.

Daphne’s PASSION was cooking. Whether it be making patties, cheese straws, clapping roti, fish cakes, icing black cake, ginger beer, pine tarts, sous or anything else, if you wanted a certain food and it was GOOD, you can get it from her. She loved cooking so much that she and her sister Yvonne decided to form a home based catering company in which they catered for many functions . But the one thing Daphne was INFAMOUS for, was her black cake in which every year it was a grand production especially during Christmas time. Orders would come running through like water but she NEVER turned an order down. And then she would ice cakes. She took cake decorating classes at JC Penny to hone in our her skill. Out of the many cakes that she did, her best cakes were for Aubrey’s wedding and Rhonda’s sweet 16. At any moment you can find her taking a photo next to the cakes she did as she was very proud of her work. However, she would speak in a certain “tone” to Albert when transporting the cakes to “HOLD THE BOTTOM”.

Daphne genuinely enjoyed entertaining and was the ultimate host. Martha Stewart had nothing on her. Whatever function she hosted, you were promised a grand old time.  From house parties in Brooklyn, barbeques in Central Islip, Hat & Tea Parties at the church and house parties to her home in Guyana, if she hosted it, it was a good time and she had the best music that people could hear from blocks away. She also enjoyed going to her high school reunion so she could reconnect with her “Bach mates”.

In 2005, Daphne retired from working at Interfaith hospital for 36 years in which she received a proclamation for her service. She had more time to pursue her love of cooking, traveling and entertaining and becoming more active at Church of Messiah. She became a member of the Mother’s Union, hosted food pantry and did coffee hour. But one thing you knew Daphne for was the “Hat & Tea party”.  You can hear her say “Over and under” and “1,2,3, kick” to anyone participating in plaiting the maypole. Daphne was a true giver and if you came to the party without a hat, she would give you one of her many hats she collected and owned.

During retirement, Daphne also became an election official and took her position very seriously but not as serious as her position when visiting the casino with her buddy Peggy. If you missed Daphne, you could find her at the casino.

Daphne was extremely family oriented and was affectionately called “Daph” or “Aunty Daph”. She and her sister Yvonne were inseparable. When they got together, no one dared interrupting their talks about “long time”.  But her children were EVERYTHING. She would say to Audrey, Aubrey and Rhonda “ If you’re ok, I’m ok”. She was very proud of all of their accomplishments and never forgot their birthdays to which she would call and sing happy birthday to them in the mornings.

Daphne enjoyed her grandchildren but would say “I’m not babysitting”. However, she ended up enjoying her grandmother duties and eventually would baby sit especially more in her retired age. Going to Grandma’s became a hit.

Daphne was very generous and kindhearted to her friends and family. She was loyal, loved and will be missed by many who crossed paths with her.

Daphne is preceded in death by her husband Albert of 49 years.

Daphne is survived by her loving children: Aubrey (Patrick) Glenn, Audrey (Patricia) Keliher, and Rhonda Glenn-Nedderman.

Grandchildren: Michael and Mitchell Keliher, Christopher and Cameron Glenn, Celina and Cainan Nedderman.

Great Grandchildren: Olivia and Isabella Keliher

Sister: Yvonne Newland

Son in Law- Michael, Daughter in Law- Phyiona, Grandaughter in Law-Jessica, 11  step children, God daughters Eslyn, Jaqueline, Alexia,  several loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and very close family and friends.

Daphne will be sorely missed and lived her life as her favorite song by Frank Sinatra and did it “My way”…