Mary S. (Saulnier) Gardiner

Mary S. (Saulnier) Gardiner, of Waltham, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 20, 2024, at Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln. She was 90 years old.

Born in Belmont on March 17, 1934, Mary was the beloved daughter of the late Leger and Irene (Comeau) Saulnier. On October 2, 1954, she married Robert F. Gardiner, and they cherished forty-nine wonderful years together before his passing in 2004.

Mary had a strong sense of family, being one of eight children, mother of five, and the aunt to thirty-nine nieces and nephews. And nothing gave her greater pleasure than her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; she loved them fiercely and was proud of each and every one.

She grew up in a home built on love and a strong sense of community. Throughout her life, she exemplified the values of family, togetherness, and unwavering support, traits that were passed down by her parents and became the foundation of her family. Her home was a gathering place for countless family events, from birthdays to holiday celebrations, where everyone would unite, strengthening the ties that bound them together. She will be profusely missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the countless family members who were lucky enough to call her family.

Mary's dedication to her community was unwavering. Passionate about making a difference, she was deeply involved in local political initiatives and played a vital role in organizing numerous events alongside her close-knit group of friends. One of her standout contributions was her involvement in the "Waltham City of Choice" initiative, a project that aimed to improve the quality of life in Waltham. Mary also encouraged her children and grandchildren to get involved. They helped with everything from stuffing envelopes to selling tickets, and even dressing up as bunnies for the annual Easter Hunts on Waltham Common. Beyond the public-facing events, Mary worked tirelessly behind the scenes, particularly with her sister Hazel, and close friends, Roberta, and Ellie. 

Mary also cherished spending her summers at York Beach, Maine, with her husband and family. On weekends, she could often be found on all-day shopping excursions, with the Christmas Tree Shop being one of her favorites, alongside her sister Hazel and one or more of their grandchildren.

Before starting her family, Mary worked at Parke Snow's on Moody Street. After raising her children, she joined her sister Doris in working for the Weston School Department, later transitioning to the Fitch School Department. She was active in the Fitch School Scholarship committee.

Mary loved decorating her family home for every holiday, especially Christmas. Living on a main street, she took pride in decorating the bay window for every holiday, big or small. 

Mary is survived by her children, Denise Spataro (late Louis), William Gardiner (Christine), Gail Gardiner, Debra Glasheen (Robert) all of Waltham and Gwen Gardiner of Nashua, NH; her grandchildren Jason Pierce of Los Angeles, CA, Jessica Moody (Jesse) of Waltham, Lyndsay Eaton (James) of Nashua, New Hampshire, Ryan Gardiner, Tori Gardiner, Olivia Gardiner all of Waltham and Emma Gardiner of Boston; her great-grandchildren, Isabella, Zoe, Zach, Alex, Max and grand-dog Stella; her siblings, Doris Young, Richard Saulnier (Jane) , Sister-in-law, Patricia Saulnier, and Brother-in-law, John Gardiner, she was also survived by many nieces, nephews and their families.

In addition to her husband Robert, Mary was predeceased by her siblings, Theresa Palmer, Harold Saulnier, Donald Saulnier, Hazel Grimes, and Robert Saulnier. 

Family and friends will honor and remember Mary’s life by gathering for an Evening Wake at The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Friday, December 27th from 4 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday morning where her Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

To watch a broadcast [and recording] of Mary's service please visit https://my.gather.app/remember/mary-gardiner-2024 at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.