Arlene E. Gardner

master seamstress and knitter; 89

LEOMINSTER -- Arlene E. (Pierce) Gardner, 89, died peacefully on May 1, 2010 at Bow Lake, Strafford, NH surrounded by her loving family.

She was born on December 26, 1920, the daughter of Chester and Lillian (Reinhardt) Pierce. She was a 1939 graduate of Leominster High School. She was married 64 years to the late James A. Gardner, who died February 2006. She is also predeceased by her daughter, Susan J. Gardner, who died in September 2006 and three brothers, Chester, Warren and Lloyd Pierce.

Arlene is survived by her daughters, Sandra J. Anthony and her husband Vernon of Brooksville FL, Sally J. Gardner and her husband George Pasay of Leominster, and Sherry J. Schofield-Bedell and her husband Allan Bedell of Strafford NH, granddaughter, Wendy Thrailkill, grandsons, Jeffrey Rossbach and his wife Michelle, Michael Schofield and his wife Robin, William Gardner-Mims, Thomas Schofield and his partner James Lajeunesse, great-grandsons, Dustin, Dalton, and Drew Rossbach, Benjamin Thrailkill, and Brenden Schofield, sisters Beatrice Kingsbury of Cape Coral FL and Joan Fogel of Santa Barbara CA, brother, Richard Pierce and wife Flora of Leominster, sister-in-law, Glenda Gardner of Fitchburg and many loving nieces and nephews.

Arlene was a kind and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She and her family enjoyed many summers at their home in Truro, Cape Cod. She was a master seamstress and knitter. She taught Sunday School for 46 years and was a 38 year member of the TOPS Club of Leominster. She was a charter member of the Leominster United Methodist Church. In later years, she knit prayer shawls for those who were ill or in nursing homes. She always wore a warm smile and a pretty hat. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and neighbors.

GARDNER -- Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 7, 2010 from 9-11 A.M. with a service to follow at 11 A.M. in the Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West Street, Leominster. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Friends of Sholan Farms, PO Box 632, Leominster, MA 01453 or to the Leominster United Methodist Church, 77 Hall Street, Leominster, MA 01453. www.richardsonfuneralhome.net