Patsy F Gardner

Patsy Gardner passed away peacefully at her home in Brewster on July 10.

Born in Lancaster, PA, she was a graduate of Penn Manor High School in Millersville, PA. and in 1983, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with a BA in English.

Her working career included the following: Executive Secretary to the Chairman of GTECH Corporation, Providence, RI; Legal Assistant at Union Carbide, Danbury CT; Administrative Assistant at Morehouse Publishing Co., Ridgefield, CT; Library Assistant at Princeton Public, Evanston Public and Columbia University libraries; Secretary to the RISEM District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church; and Service Representative at Bell Telephone in Lancaster, PA and Princeton, NJ.

A mastectomy in 1976 triggered her interest in women’s health issues. In 1978 she became Coordinator of the RI Women’s Health Collective and co-founded a mastectomy support group.

She wrote poetry, enjoyed travel, entertaining, reading, theatre and dance performances (especially those in which her daughter was involved), bird watching and especially gardening. One of her greatest pleasures was sharing bouquets from her flower beds with friends and family. She was active in churches wherever she lived, most recently the Orleans, Cape Cod, United Methodist Church. Greatly concerned about justice and environmental issues, she frequently contacted local, state and national lawmakers about impending legislation.

Patsy is survived by her daughter, Suzette Hutchinson (Robert Wilder) of Brewster; three sisters - Gwen Ferguson (Cullen Ferguson) of Black Mountain, NC; Susie McJunkin of Martic Forge, PA; Dorothy Holroyd of York, PA; six nieces and six nephews; many grand nieces and nephews; her beloved husband Robert Gardner’s children, Barbara Conklin (Al) and John Gardner (Miriam); his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, 411 Main St, Suite #6, Yarmouth Port, MA 02675

A celebration of her life will be held on September 6 at 2:00pm at the Orleans Methodist church.