Gilberta "Gibby" N. Wells' Obituary
Gilberta N. “Gibby” Wells, 92, of Marlton, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on May 12, 2026. Born in Somerville, NJ on December 25, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Gilberta Horner Napolitan.
Gibby was a loving wife to the late Maurice Wells, and a devoted mother to Jean Wells Lehmberg (Gregg), Lori Wells Strasser (Christian), Matthew Wells, and Linda P. Calhoun (Kevin) . Loving grandmother of Timothy Lehmberg (Trevor), Andrew Lehmberg (Paulina), Marissa Lehmberg, Juliette Wells Strasser, PhD (Edward), Adam Wells Strasser, Jacob Wells Strasser, Jonathan Wells, PhD, Allison Wells, Paige Wells, Megan Calhoun, and Ian Calhoun. She was also predeceased by her beloved grandson, Zachary Accardi.
Gibby grew up on a farm in Neshanic, NJ, where she loved sharing stories from her childhood, including jumping off the barn roof into snowbanks. Raised by her mother and grandparents, she attended a one-room schoolhouse and often listened closely to the lessons being taught to the older grades. Bright and determined from an early age, she proudly graduated from Somerville High School at just 17 years old.
A true Jersey girl through and through, Gibby made lifelong friendships wherever she went. She especially cherished her “Knitting Club,” where very little knitting was ever accomplished. As a single mother in the 1960s, Gibby worked tirelessly alongside her own mother to save enough money to purchase their first home in Somerville, NJ. That home became the foundation for many more chapters in life, eventually leading her to Branchburg, NJ, Thousand Oaks, CA; White House Station, NJ; Andover, MA; and Furlong, PA.
Gibby worked as a bookkeeper in the payroll department for the Ortho division of Johnson & Johnson, where she later met her beloved husband, Maurice Wells. Together they shared a deep and lasting love, enjoying shore trips to Cape May, board games, card games, and puzzles. Family holidays were almost always hosted by Gibby herself—she rarely allowed anyone else to take over.
After Maurice’s passing, Gibby moved to Legacy Oaks in Marlton in 2003, where she formed another wonderful circle of friends affectionately known as “The Ladies of the Pond.” She embraced community life wholeheartedly, enjoying bocce ball, bowling, mahjong, and trips to New York City for Broadway shows.
Gibby spent countless hours traveling between the homes of her four children because fairness and equal time with family meant everything to her. She was deeply involved in the lives of her grandchildren, faithfully attending sports games, concerts, art shows, language exhibitions, dance recitals, vocal and instrumental performances, theater productions, and all graduations. Her family knew her as energetic, confident, competitive, and, at times, delightfully stubborn—a trait lovingly passed down through generations.
Later in life, Gibby met her dear friend Sonnie Narmah Sarmah, who brought great joy and laughter into her days. Gibby loved sports and enjoyed attending baseball games, cheering on the Red Sox, Orioles, Phillies, and Mets. She and Sonnie especially enjoyed betting on football games together, and Gibby often came out the winner.
She was also a wonderfully playful and involved mother. One favorite family memory recalls the year her son Matthew was sick on Halloween, and Gibby dressed up in his place, wearing an army jacket and a Planet of the Apes mask, successfully passing as one of the neighborhood kids thanks to her petite five-foot frame.
Gibby had a lifelong love for animals, beginning with the cocker spaniel she adored as a child. Pets were always welcomed into her home, and she shared a particularly special bond with her daughter Lori’s dog, “Little Girl.”
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Givnish of Marlton. Her funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Historic Doylestown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gibby’s name may be made to the American Heart Association at https://Heart.org.
What’s your fondest memory of Gilberta "Gibby"?
What’s a lesson you learned from Gilberta "Gibby"?
Share a story where Gilberta "Gibby"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Gilberta "Gibby" you’ll never forget.
How did Gilberta "Gibby" make you smile?
