"My thoughts and prayers go out to John and his entire family. Reading your mothers Obituary it is obvious she was a go getter and didn't take life for granted. May she rest in peace and her reflection live on with you all. Doug Schott"
In loving memory of
Agnes Gardner
April 13, 1938 - December 25, 2020
December 25, 2020. Marie is predeceased by her eldest son, Charles Judd Gardner whom passed away earlier this year in November. She is survived by her husband, Charles Jack Gardner; three children, John Patrick (Sue) Gardner of Webster, Edward Vernon (Cheryl) Gardner of Kent Helen (David) Blondin of Penfield; 9 grandchildren, Charles Michael (Brittney) Gardner of TX., William Gardner of Rochester, Matthew Vernon (Sandra) Gardner of TX., Brian Gardner of Penfield, Nicole Gardner of Buffalo, Emily Blondin of Rochester, Chelsea Heard of TX., Sarah Gardner of Macedon Caitlin Blondin of Penfield; 2 great-grandchildren, Alexandria Love Heard Azalea Rose Heard both of TX; brother-in-law Richard Gardner of FL.
All Services were held privately with Marie's family
To sign Agnes's virtual registry book, please click here
(Agnes) Marie Kane was born in Butte. Montana, where she attended Girls Central High School and won the Bausch Lomb Science Award her senior year. Marie graduated with a BS in Nursing Education from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and married Charles Gardner in 1960 and moved to Madison, Wisconsin, with Chuck where she worked as a nurse in a hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, while her husband was working on his master's degree at the University of Wisconsin. After graduation, they moved to Rochester in 1962 after Chuck accepted a job at Eastman Kodak Company.
After the family got older she returned to school and received an MA in psychology from SUNY at Brockport. She combined this with her nursing background to act as nurse/therapist/counselor in a number of organizations including Association for Retarded Citizens as a nurse/clinical supervisor/social worker, Heritage Christian Home as a clinical team member, CDS as a nurse and rehab counselor, DePaul Mental Health as a therapist, and Spiritus Christi, Mental Health Center as a therapist.
Marie was an avid reader and had a diverse set of talents beyond nursing and psychology. Her hobbies included fishing (bait and fly), trumpet, piano, guitar, dulcimer, sewing, knitting, Temari, decoupage, candle making, and most recently as an artist and painter with water colors. She was very active with Church organizations at Holy Name of Jesus parish in Greece, including co-directing a the children's choir, family education, and a coordinating teacher in the school of religion. She was also active in scouting as the den mother and was a spectator of track, soccer, swimming, and judo with the children. She has been a member of a family oriented cross country ski group for over 30 years. She was a member of a weekly bridge group for over 50 years and played euchre and pinochle with her family as well. She was a great cook who made pasties and pies for her family and made several loaves of povatica bread every Christmas for her friends and family and in later years with help from her granddaughters and daughter-in-laws. She passed her love of animals to her children and had several dogs throughout her life including a cocker spaniel, an English Bulldog, a pug and a sharpei.
She hiked several peaks in the Adirondacks and has backpacked in the Northeast and Western states. Her family horsepacked in the Danaher Valley in Montana and canoed in Minnesota and enjoyed camping trips to Piseco Lake and Woodstream with friends and family. Her travel adventures with Chuck spanned the globe and included kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland, cruising the River Danube River, petting huskies in Alaska, arranging flowers in Japan and seeing the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. One of her favorite spots in the world was Keuka Lake where the bulk of her summers were spent at a family cottage.
Tributes
"John, Ed, & Helen: So sorry to hear of your mom's passing. Tons of memories from True Hickory including Mrs. G calling "Simba, kitty kitty kitty" and the whistle that called you all home. One of my favorite memories is when your mom was making applesauce and we all sat around your kitchen table peeling the apples, seeing who could make the longest peel. She was easy to talk to and God knows needed a sense of humor to put up with all of you. We were lucky to grow up with great neighbors. I always admired your mom: Agnes was my confirmation name, and your mom was my sponsor. Mr. G: Mrs. G could not have asked for a more devoted husband. May the memories of your shared adventures bring you comfort. Lyn Kurz Lathrop"