Manya Natalie Gaiardelli of East Harwich, MA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 25, 2020, at the age of 84, after a nine-year battle with dementia. She was born on April 4, 1936 in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of the late Desmond Markham and Mary (Bonaparte Wyse) Markham. Manya is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 53 years, Robert Gaiardelli and her daughter and best friend, Eva Marie Gaiardelli, both residing in West Quincy, MA.
She was pre-deceased by her eldest brother, Francis Markham and his wife, Shelia and is survived by her younger brother, Andrew Markham and his wife Barbie of West Covina, CA. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Diane Gaiardelli of Selden, NY, as well as several loving nephews and nieces.
Manya graduated from Sion Hill secondary school in Blackrock, Dublin in 1953. While living in Dublin, Manya worked as a model for fashion magazines, as well as a dental assistant. She loved to travel and did so to France and Italy as a governess and then to New York City with one of the families. On Christmas day in 1964, while ice skating in Central Park, she met the man she would later marry, her Bobby. She fell on the ice and he skated over to help her up. They married on August 12, 1967 in Manhattan and made their home in Wappingers Falls, NY, where she spent eighteen years working as a pediatric dental assistant. Robert and Manya retired on Cape Cod and resided in East Harwich for sixteen years. She worked on Sunday mornings as the children’s nursery caregiver at St. Peter’s Church in Harwich, MA for thirteen years. She always enjoyed spending time with children and animals and she adored gardening and watercolor painting.
A private service will be held. A Memorial Mass / Celebration of her life will be scheduled for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Manya Natalie Gaiardelli’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association: www.act.alz.org For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com
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