Marie Cecelia Corgiat

Our cherished Nana, Mom, Sister, Auntie and Friend, Marie Cecelia Corgiat died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of 10/26/2024 in her home in Troutdale, Oregon after a year of health challenges. She was surrounded by her two daughters, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was 81 years old. She was born in Modesto, CA on 6/11/1943 to John Benjamin Corgiat and Theodora Catherine Conant.

Marie’s early years were with her parents and two brothers, John and Richard, in Modesto California. She had a spunky personality and took initiative, such as painting the neighbor’s car because it looked so boring. At the age of 14, she met her future husband, Ken Gardner. They married five years later and made a life together out in the country in Oregon. They had a 5-acre farm with horses, cows, goats, chickens and other animals, as well as a large vegetable garden, fruit trees and raspberry field. Summers were filled with activities such as canning, freezing and drying food, to be enjoyed all year long. Marie’s daughters learned self-sufficiency and confidence as they went about farm life, and there was much laughter and fun along the way.

Marie was passionate about all matters of health and wellness, from nutrition to exercise to meditation and spirituality. She taught yoga for over 30 years and greatly enjoyed yoga practice and her students. She regularly clipped articles about wellness and shared them with friends and family.

One of Marie’s favorite things in life was gardening. For years her yard was lush with gorgeous blooming flowers of all kinds, as well as vegetables and berries. She was known to many as the “Tomato Queen” for her abundant bounty of many varieties of tomatoes, which she shared with friends and family.

As life progressed she continued to be an independent, feisty gal, secretly taking a neighbor’s cat as her own when she felt it wasn’t adequately cared for, and cutting down trees on a neighbor’s property as she deemed it appropriate. She named the cat Sweetie and was a loving and attentive cat mom.

The most notable quality in Marie was her dedication to her family. For years she remembered the birthdays of her nieces and nephews and sent cards to celebrate and make them feel special. She made many trips to California and other places to visit family. With her daughters and grandchildren, she was ever-present, cooking, cleaning, babysitting, giving back rubs, helping throw birthday parties and holiday dinners, joining for many vacations, sharing so generously of her time, energy and resources. She absolutely adored her grandchildren and doted on them. She set a high bar as the matriarch of her family and set quite an example to those now stepping into her shoes. She will be missed deeply and often as we find our way forward, her beautiful spirit ever present in us.