Marie Katherine Gardner

1920-2014

1920’s—Marie was born in Parma, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, to John and Anna Schaefer, on September 28, 1920. The announcement was made, “It’s a boy!” And then the midwife said, “Wait a minute, there’s another baby here.” So Marie entered the world a few minutes after her brother, Jack. Five years later sister, Doris, arrived completing their family. Marie’s childhood was filled with a lot of family gatherings out on the farms and lakes of northeastern Ohio. During elementary school, Marie was asked by the nuns to play the March of the Toy Soldiers on the piano while the students marched out of school each day.

1930’s—As the Great Depression took hold, Marie’s father, John, found work in Chicago, and so the family moved from Cleveland to be with him. Unfortunately, her father’s health declined rapidly and he was diagnosed with a terminal illness which took his life within a few months. Marie was only 10 years old. Her mother moved the children back to Cleveland to be near family. After completing tenth grade at Shaker Heights High School, Marie joined the work force to help support the family and put her brother and sister through school. Her secretarial skills were enhanced by attendance at a Business College where she perfected her typing and learned stenography.

1940’s—In the 1940’s, Marie worked as a secretary at her uncle’s construction company. One of Uncle Bill’s big projects back then was building the original Cleveland Municipal Stadium. On Christmas morning in 1942, Marie was introduced to a young man on the front steps of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. Shortly thereafter this tall, dark and handsome guy asked her out on a date—dinner and a movie on New Year’s Eve. Everything “clicked” as they say, and the rest is history. By Valentine’s Day, Paul and Marie were a serious couple. Every Valentine’s Day Marie would bring out the rhinestone bracelet he gave her and reflect on her Sweetheart. The only thing standing in their way was WWII. Paul had been drafted and was due to leave for basic training very soon. A few months later Marie took the train down south to West Palm Beach for one last visit before Paul went overseas. During this visit they became formally engaged, and after he shipped out, ultimately ending up in India, Marie would communicate with Paul daily for the next two and a half years. When the war ended and they were reunited, their marriage took place on September 21, 1946 at the same church where they had first met. The Baby Boom had begun and Katherine (Kate), Linda and Jerome (Jerry) all were born within 25 months… that was 1947, ‘48, ‘49.

1950’s—During the 50’s Marie was busy keeping up with her growing family. They moved to the suburbs to a small bungalow that was in walking distance to the church, the market, and the bus stop because they didn’t own a car at that time. Marie sewed mother-daughter Easter outfits. She sewed dress clothes, school clothes, and play clothes for her brood. She sewed Katie’s First Communion dress (which two of her great-granddaughters would later wear for their First Communion celebrations). She made so many of our clothes that getting a store-bought dress was thought of as a huge treat. Marie also liked to cook and bake. She took a bread making course, and we benefited with delicious breads and coffee cakes throughout our lives. Marie also hosted card parties to support the Catholic School we attended. She became the leader of our local Campfire Girls group. In 1958 her mother died unexpectedly, and that tragedy was a great sadness to the entire family. To lift the family out of its sorrow, Paul and Marie and her sister, Doris, planned an extensive train trip out West the following summer. This vacation created many lasting memories, and reminiscing about the great time we had as a family, continues to this day.

1960’s—The beginning of the sixties took the family out of the suburbs back to the city and the family home that had belonged to Marie’s grandparents. It was here in the city that Marie started back to work part time for various small businesses. She packed lunches every day for her kids and the kid around the block, Aron Hajde, who’d become a daily fixture in our household as Jerry’s best friend. She typed scores of reports and term papers for her kids who were now attending high school and college. It was so important to them that their children go to college.

1970’s—The 1970’s ushered in weddings (Katie in 1971, Jerry in 1972 and Linda in 1975). And, of course, she sewed dozens of dresses and outfits for bridesmaids, flower girls and ring bearers. Then came the most exciting event of all—the first grandchild. Marie cherished her role as Grama. Soon they had four grandsons. When Aron and Katie decided to move to Denver, Colorado in the spring of 1978, Paul and Marie couldn’t bear the thought of not being close to their grandkids, so they uprooted themselves and moved to Denver that October. For the first time in their lives they were now apartment dwellers. Grama’s big entertainment event of the year was Christmas Eve dinner and the annual photo taken of the grandsons and their dad on their couch.

1980’s—Marie and Paul loved Colorado, but their greatest joy was their daily involvement with their grandsons. During the 80’s, Marie sewed all kinds of outfits and playwear for her grandkids. She baked them all their favorite treats, especially on their birthdays. Three more grandchildren arrived in Connecticut, so trips were made to visit with them. Marie found a notice on the job board at St. Thomas More Parish from someone seeking a part time secretary, so once again she went back to work while Paul enjoyed his much deserved retirement. In 1986, Katie and Aron bought a home in Castle Rock, so Paul and Marie packed up their belongings and headed south, eventually settling in the senior apartments near Douglas County High School where she lived for the next 25 years. In their new town, they became members of a new parish as well, St. Francis of Assisi. They got involved right away and soon Marie was volunteering as the typist for the weekly bulletin, and they joined a fledgling ministry called The Gathering.

1990’s—As the 90’s progressed, Marie’s volunteer day at the parish expanded to five afternoons a week as part of the staff. She loved working on the new computers and learning the church software and interacting with her fellow parishioners. During this decade her grandsons started getting married, and Grama sewed dresses for these occasions as well. She said the flower girl dress for her oldest grandson’s wedding was the most complicated piece she had ever made. In 1996 Paul and Marie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. By the end of the decade, a first great-granddaughter was born, and Grama had even more children to spoil.

2000’s—As the new millennium arrived so did another great-granddaughter. There were more weddings, more great-grandchildren, more family to gather for celebrations. In 2004 a great-grandson was born in Connecticut on her 84th birthday. Then in 2006, Paul and Marie celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. The following year Paul’s health began to fail and on September 4, 2007, a month shy of his 91st birthday, God took him home. One year later to the day, the Lord blessed the family with another great-grandson. Two months after Paul’s death, Marie fell and broke her leg. This event precipitated her retirement from St. Francis of Assisi following twenty years of service to the parish. She was 87. Her youngest great-grandson was born in 2009, and he started calling her “G-Grama” and she especially enjoyed her daily visits with him.

2010’s—In 2010 Marie was asked to bake pies for another grandson’s wedding reception. She made 15 pies in three varieties, and she was so delighted to be able to help in this way. In October of 2011, she was stricken with shingles of the left eye, and this illness was so debilitating that she had to come live with Aron and Katie. It was soon evident that this would be a permanent arrangement. The family cleaned out her Oakwood apartment, and she was pleased that many of her possessions were finding new homes with her grandkids. At the beginning of 2013, we wanted to give her something to look forward to by planning a driving trip to Connecticut for her youngest granddaughter’s wedding that September. Marie was so excited but the first thing out of her mouth was “What will I wear?” Although dementia was beginning to affect her mind, her health was quite good (for most of her 93 years she never took anything more than a daily aspirin). On September 21, 2013, we packed the car with luggage, coolers, snacks, gifts, walkers and a wheelchair and headed East. The wedding was a beautiful celebration on the 26th and two days later, we took her to the seashore for a 93rd birthday luncheon. The day was crystal clear, and we could look across the sound to Long Island and enjoy the sea breezes. She thoroughly enjoyed her favorite treat, a root beer float and a hot dog, in that order, and the company of her two daughters and son-in-law. Following our Connecticut visit, we headed to Cleveland so she could visit with her “baby boy” and see family and friends. Marie traveled like a trooper. The autumn scenery had been spectacular with perfect weather, and Marie enjoyed every minute of it. The holidays came and went and 2014 arrived along with more complications related to her dementia. At the end of March an illness put her in a care center and then a stroke caused her health to spiral downward. Within one week the Lord mercifully took her home.

Marie is survived by her sister, three children, eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Like George Bailey, the famous movie character, Marie had “a wonderful life”, and so many people, family and friends alike, know that they are blessed because she had been a part of their lives. May the Lord bless Marie and may all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Her family includes: sister, Doris (John) Faustini; daughters, Katie (Aron) Hajde; Linda (Michael) Kelly; son, Jerry (Mary Lou) Gardner; grandsons, Daniel (Dana) Hajde, Thomas Hajde, Jeremy (Zabrina) Hajde, Matthew (Yvonne) Hajde, Andrew (Amy) Hajde, Evan Kelly; granddaughters, Caitlin (Craig) Jensen, Mary Kate Kelly (Matthew) Terribile; great-grandchildren, Chalynne, Caylee, Courtney, Avery, Benjamin, Cole, Jackson, and Penelope Hajde, and Michael Jensen and Rory Kelly-Wood.

Marie was predeceased by: grandson, James Hajde (’77); brother, Jack Schaefer (’00); son-in-law, Michael Kelly (’00); husband, Paul Gardner (’07).

Donations can be made in her name to Wounded Warrior Project @ www.woundedwarriorproject.org or mail to Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, Kansas 66675. Services for Marie will be Monday, April 21 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock, Colorado: Rosary at 10am and Memorial Mass at 10:30am. A light luncheon will be provided at the church following Mass. Committal service to follow luncheon at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Castle Rock.