Obituary of Geraldine Gardner

Scotia--Geraldine H. Gardner, 95, a longtime resident of Scotia, entered into eternal life at the Glendale Nursing Home on December 21, 2014 after a short illness. She was reunited with her husband Daniel G. Gardner, who predeceased her in 2010. Gerry was born in Buffalo, NY on April 11, 1919 to Howard and Jane Jordan. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1937. During the next 15 years, she had a wide-ranging career, which ultimately led her to work as a civilian for the US Air Force in post-war Japan. In Nagoya, Japan, she met Dan, who was stationed there as a Naval officer. They were married on February 9, 1952 in San Diego, CA. As a Naval family, Dan and Gerry lived in Seattle, Guam, San Francisco, San Diego, and Brooklyn before ultimately settling in Scotia in 1961, following Dan's retirement from the US Navy. Gerry dedicated her life and love to raising her three children, Michael, Mary, and Christopher, and later her three grandchildren, Christopher, Caitlin and Caroline. She was a wonderful mother and outstanding grandmother who, with her husband Dan, spent a tremendous amount of time with her family. She especially enjoyed family get-togethers and annual vacations in Cape Cod. Gerry was a parishioner at St. Joseph's Church in Scotia and an active member of the Rosary Society. Gerry was pre-deceased by her sister Bette Piller (Eden, NY). She is survived by her son Dr. Michael Gardner (Guilderland), daughter Mary (Kenneth) Parks (Burnt Hills), son Christopher (Colleen) Gardner (Niskayuna), and her three grandchildren, Christopher (Sarah) Parks, and Caitlin and Caroline Gardner. The family would like to thank the staff at Union Station at the Glendale Nursing Home for their kind and compassionate care the past six months, and also thank her long-time caregivers, Kim Rulison, Brian French, and Debbie Schanbacher. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 27 at 11 am at St. Joseph's Church, 231 Second Street in Scotia, NY. A visitation will be held at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road, Glenville, NY on December 27 from 9 to 10:30 am. Memorial contributions can be made to the Glendale Nursing Home Auxiliary, Hetcheltown Road, Scotia, NY or to St. Joseph's Church in Scotia. Interment will be at Memory Gardens, Colonie, NY.