Arlene Ann Gardner

Born August 30, 1941, in Scranton, PA, she attended schools in that city, with a multitude of cousins and her best friend, Ellie Reynolds. A member of Saint Stanislaus RC Church, she regularly attended mass with her large extended family, including matriarch, Grandma Josephine Elechko. Her uncles were ushers, while their sons served as altar servers. She, and her family, volunteered for fundraisers and were members of various church ministries. Her own mother, Stella Robacker, was president of Christian Mothers.

Arlene’s favorite holiday was Christmas, when her mother would host a large family dinner on Christmas Eve, complete with cousin Joey Elechko dressed as Santa Claus, and family caroling. At evening’s end, they’d gather with more family, and friends, at Saint Stanislaus church, for midnight mass.

Arlene happily worked, many years, as head waitress, for her friends, Nancy and Joe Schiavone, at their Chef Schiavone’s Restaurant- a popular Italian venue in Glenburn, PA. In 1978, she broke new ground for women, on the industrial front, when she took a job at a Proctor & Gamble paper plant, in Mehoopany, PA, working in the pulp mill; a good paying, though arduous, position formerly forbidden to women. In 1981, Arlene opened her own business, a pizza shop, in Dalton, PA, eventually moving up the hill, in 1983, when she purchased the Dalton Homestead, a historic restaurant and tavern.

In 1987, Arlene met the love of her life, Jack Gardner, a long haul truck driver. Again breaking barriers for women, Arlene obtained her own Commercial Driver’s License, becoming a lady truck driver. She and Jack traveled across the United States, many times, hauling freight from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans, south to the Mexico border, and north into Canada, sharing great adventures and good times. She even had a sewing machine in their large sleeper cab, to keep busy, while Jack was at the wheel. (He loves the Hawaiian shirts that she fashioned for him.)

When a serious knee injury ended her trucking career, Arlene returned to their home, in Waymart, PA, while Jack continued driving truck. She enjoyed decorating their home, for every holiday, but especially for Christmas, when she’d turn their front lawn into a winter wonderland.

Forever “keeping busy”, Arlene became a member of Endless Mountains Quilters, participating in their quilt shows. She enjoyed gardening; graduating from Penn State University’s Master Gardener course, with her daughters, Cheryl and Catherine. Always an excellent baker, Arlene shared her baked goods, (with recipes), and homemade candies, with everyone. Her peanut butter Easter eggs were always a crowd pleaser. Also, interested in interior design, she’d refurbish, reupholster, and often rearrange their furniture. With her talented, youngest daughter, Virginia, (who’d visit with carpentry tools in hand), they’d tackle Arlene’s latest home project, no matter how daunting the venture.

When Arlene heard that a local senior home was short staffed, she became an aid at Spojnia Farm, in Waymart, PA. She went above and beyond in the care of her “grannies”, often using her seamstress skills to repair and alter their clothes for a better fit. But when an irresistible opportunity came along, Arlene joined her sister, Elaine, in opening their own Curves fitness gym in Carbondale, PA.

After her retirement, Arlene and Jack moved to Prattville, AL, (which she called “the new Florida”), purchasing a house just a few blocks from her sister Shirley’s home. The two sisters enjoyed each other’s company, almost every day, while Jack continued to drive truck. Both attended mass, together, at Saint Joseph’s RC Church, Prattville, AL, where they were also members of the BUNCO and Canasta clubs. Arlene, for a time, volunteered as secretary of the Italian Club.

As her health declined, her sister, my Aunt Shirley, remained her most faithful companion, assisting our mother in many ways: driving her places; cooking scrumptious meals; catching her up on the latest family news; praying; and sometimes just sitting quietly, enjoying a Hallmark movie, together. Their sister, Elaine, telephoned almost every day, and drove over 1,000 miles to visit our Mom in the hospital. “Thank you”, are not words enough to express our family’s gratitude for being blessed by these two amazing women

Arlene is survived by her beloved husband of 37 years, Jack Gardner, Prattville, AL. A dedicated husband, Jack was steadfast in his care of Arlene, even as her health declined. Forever young at heart, they never parted company without a farewell of “Love you so, like Rock n Roll”.

She is missed by her four children: daughters Cheryl Matulevich and husband, Gary, Hop Bottom, PA; Catherine Darko, Bethlehem, PA; Virginia Britt and her husband, Jerry, Vina, AL; and son Jamie Edison Ruddy, Scranton, PA. She is survived, also, by her sisters: Shirley Starnes, Prattville, AL, and Elaine Jackson and husband, Ron, Falls, PA. With lasting friendships of over 60 years, her good friends, Mary Jo Nelson, SC, and Carol Rothstein, PA, survive her, too.

As aforementioned, our mother was blessed to grow up in a large, loving, extended family, in the Green Ridge section of Scranton, PA, with her Grandma Jo, Aunt Millie, Uncle Joe, Uncle Mel, and all their children, living within blocks of each other -with frequent visits from Uncle George, who had moved to Delaware. At the time of her death, our mother, Arlene Ann Gardner, was “Grammy” to 15 grown grandchildren and “G.G.” To 25 great grandchildren. Her legacy is ensured

Grandchildren are: Wendy, Joshua, Jacqueline, Meadow, Raven, Solomon, Jillian, Elizabeth, Levi, Ranson, Zachary, Christopher, Daisy, and twins Arlene, and Catherine.

Great Grandchildren are: Matthew, Nurizi, Sarah, Madison, Elliot Rose, Lucy, Reina, Isabella, Leonidus, Aurora, Charlotte, Nolan, Jaiden, Reid, Zarina, Kaiya, Carter, Gloria, Juniper, Sylvia, Jeremiah, Xavier, Ezra, Kenneth, and Sage.

Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive Arlene, including her youngest cousin, Matt Elechko, who with his father, Mel, hosted the annual Elechko/Karpinko Family Reunion, held at Peanut Lake, for many years. Arlene hosted the family reunion, twice, at her Dalton Homestead, prior to the construction of the Peanut Lake site. (The first family reunion was held in 1952, at her parents’ home on Amelia Ave in Scranton, PA.)

Arlene was predeceased by her mother, Stella Elechko Robacker, a loving woman of faith, and her father, Frank, a kind man who passed when she was still a child. She was also predeceased by her brother-in-law, Jerry Starnes, whom she considered as a true brother; her friend, Eleanor Reynolds; and all of her aunts and uncles, as well as several cousins- who without doubt, all greeted her heavenly arrival.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Saint Joseph’s Center, 2300 Adams Ave, Scranton, PA 18509. The Center, a ministry of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, serves individuals with developmental challenges and their families, as well as those seeking maternity care and adoption services. God bless you all, and as Mom would add, when tucking her children into bed, “Sweet dreams”.

A funeral mass for Arlene will be held Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 11AM at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 511 Memorial Drive, Prattville, AL 36067. Her burial will take place on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at 11:45AM at Alabama National Cemetery, 3133 Highway 119, Montevallo, AL 35115. A private celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, July 26, 2025 during the Elechko/Karpinko family reunion in Pennsylvania.