Patricia A. Gardiner

BANGOR - On April 18, 2011, a sweet, gentle and generous person was lost with the passing of Patricia A. (Treat) Gardiner. She died unexpectedly at a Bangor hospital after a brief illness and from complications of surgery. She was born Nov. 27, 1947, in Bangor, the daughter and first child of Edward W. and D. Lillian (LeGasse) Treat. Her childhood included many days on Phillips Lake with her family, ice skating on farm ponds and brooks in the neighborhood and eventually driving her first car, a 1965 Mustang. Pat attended Brewer public schools and graduated from Brewer High School in 1966. After graduation she attended Husson College, now Husson University, and soon began her working career. She briefly lived and worked in Boston and Long Island, N.Y. After returning to Maine, she worked for various businesses, which included many years at Cole's Express, Bar Harbor Airlines and University of Maine Systems, where she remained until the time of her death. Throughout her entire life Pat possessed a deep love and appreciation for animals, which included her own English setters and her relatives' cats. Her nephews and eventually great-nieces and great-nephews provided many hours of pleasure and laughter for Pat. In her mind, children and animals could do no wrong. Her hobbies included reading, knitting and rug hooking, but mostly Pat enjoyed just spending time with her family. She will be deeply missed and is survived by her brother, Robert Treat and his wife, Peggy, of Winterport; her sister, Barbara Elliott of Bangor; her nephew, Benjamin Treat and his wife, Anne-Marie, of Bangor; her nephew, James Elliott and his fiancee, Ashley Johnson, of Bangor; great-nieces, Rachel Miller Treat and Lily Elliott of Bangor; and great-nephews, Adam Miller Treat and Samuel Miller Treat of Bangor. She is also survived by her aunts, Mildred Treat of Holden, Bette Treat of York, Rose Stewart of Bucksport and Sue LeGasse of New York; uncles, John Treat of York and Joseph LeGasse of New York; many cousins and numerous friends and colleagues; and by a longtime and extraordinary friend, M. Jane McEwen of Gorham. Family and friends may visit 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 22, at Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor, where a service honoring and celebrating her life will be held 1 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be private. For those who wish and in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bangor Humane Society, 693B Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401 or CancerCare of Maine, care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931. Condolences to her family may be offered at www.kileyandfoley.com.