LeRoy Edward Gardner

Mr. LeRoy Edward Gardner, 83, of Rockland died Thursday, March 3, 2005 in his home after a long illness. The son of the late Edward F. and Bessie E. Prouty Gardner, he was born in Rockland on April 26, 1921. He was raised, educated and was a lifelong resident of Rockland. Mr. Gardner was a retired Rockland School Department employee and was a long time Call Firefighter for the Rockland Fire Department, where he served as a Lieutenant and Captain. He served in the Army during WWII and saw action in the Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe. He was the recipient of the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon. Mr. Gardner was a Graduate of St. John's Prep in Danvers and attended Notre Dame University for 3 years before joining the Army. He took courses at Yale University during his 4 years in the Army. At Holy Family Church, he was a former Member of the Holy Name Society, a former Usher and a former member of the Legion of Mary. LeRoy was a devoted pianist who shared his love of music and talent with his family and through nursing home concerts for many years. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis M. Keane Gardner, 6 sons, Roy Gardner of East Bridgewater, Gerard Gardner of Brookline, Peter Gardner of Rockland, Mark Gardner of Rockland, Paul Gardner of Groton and Stephen Gardner of Canton, 8 daughters, Dorothy McCauley of Rockland, Anne Marie Kennedy of Rockland, Mary Gardner West Roxbury, Madeline Meryash of Manhasset NY, Kathleen Gardner of Chestnut Hill, Rita Gardner of Dunstable, Regina Milan of Groton and Elizabeth Ann Haney of North Attleboro, 1 sister, Madeline I. ''Sally'' Gardner of Rockland, 42 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 7, 2005 at 9 AM in Holy Family Church, 403 Union Street in Rockland. Interment will be in Holy Family Cemetery. Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Home, 41-45 East Water Street in ROCKLAND on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boston Chapter, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 20 Walnut Street, Suite 318, Wellesley Hills MA 02481. http://www.jdrf.org/baystate