Ethel M. (Massie) Gardner

West Newton – Mrs. Ethel M. (Massie) Gardner, of West Newton, died Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Sunrise of Wayland. She was 93.

Ethel was born in Newton on October 3, 1923, a daughter of the late George and Ethel (Greene) Massie. She graduated from Newton High School in 1941 and two years later married her sweetheart, Waltham native Henry W. Gardner, in Saint Bernard's Church in West Newton. At the time of their marriage Henry was serving with the United States Marine Corps and after his discharge from the service at the end of World War II the couple made West Newton their lifelong home.

Until her retirement Ethel worked as a manager for the New England Telephone Company and before that worked for a number of years as a telephone operator.

Ethel will long be remembered as a terrific wife, devoted mother and proud grandmother. She made her role as a homemaker; head chef and baker; and indispensable nurse look easy for the nine children who filled her busy home. She lived the words of Saint Francis . . . "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Her joy was made complete when the family was made richer by the addition of twenty-one grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She and Henry tried to attend as many sporting events, school plays and recitals as time would permit and after her Henry died in 1986 Ethel continued to fulfill her duties as family matriarch beautifully.

She was a lifelong parishioner at Saint Bernard's Church where she was a Eucharistic minister for many years.

In addition to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, she leaves her children, Ethel M. Mauder of Brighton, Susan Ratta and her husband, Tony, of Dunedin Florida, H. William Gardner and his wife, Kathy, of Danvers, George Gardner and his wife, Ginny, of Newton, Patti Gardner Arnheim of Wayland, Cathy Ross and her husband, Barry, of Kennebunk Maine, Michael Gardner and his wife, Diane, of Dedham, John Gardner and his wife, Kelly, of Berlin, and Beth Dowdy and her husband, Craig, of Framingham; her sister, Joan Mahoney of Harwich and many nieces and nephews.

Ethel was also the sister of the late Barbara Devoe and Lorraine Hartman.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ethel's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday, February 3rd, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Bernard's Church, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent dePaul Society, c/o Corpus Christi/Saint Bernard Parish, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465.