Celebrating Diane Gardner: A Life in Full Bloom
Harriet Diane Strouss Gardner—known to most as just Diane—found her way to her "perpetual peaceful place" on January 31, 2026, in Boston. She is finally reuniting with her husband, Warren, after twenty-five years apart; we imagine they have a lot of catching up to do after their fifty-two years of marriage.
From the Runway to the Garden
Born in Richmond, PA, on August 29, 1928, Diane didn't stay still for long. After Beaver Falls High School, she headed straight for the bright lights of New York City to launch a modeling career. She wasn't just any model—she graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and struck poses for the legendary photographer Richard Avedon.
In 1949, she traded the runway for the aisle, marrying Warren Gardner at the "Little Church Around the Corner" in lower Manhattan. That wedding sparked a lifelong spiritual connection to the Episcopal Church, which served as her anchor as the family moved through Wellesley MA, Pittsburgh, Erie PA, Hudson OH, Longmeadow MA, Savannah GA, and finally Westwood MA.
World of Adventure
Diane was never one to sit on the sidelines. Whether she was hosting foreign exchange students from East Africa and Iran or jet-setting to visit her son Doug in Angkor Wat, Bangkok, and Kyiv, she embraced the world with open arms. Closer to home, Diane was a force of nature:
• The Competitor: She enjoyed the golfing greens at Longmeadow CC and The Landings at Skidaway Island, GA. She was also a formidable bridge player.
• The Arts Advocate: She was a holder of Boston Symphony Orchestra season tickets for years. Her appreciation for the arts extended to her love for art museums and her time spent as a volunteer at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts.
• The Creative: She kept a daily journal and served as the co-editor of the community literary journal at Fox Hill Village.
• The Artist: Her true passion was flower arranging, and she was particularly proud of her displays in the front entry of Fox Hill Village. Her own gardens were so beautiful they were featured on several local garden tours.
• The Skipper: She and Warren were salt-air addicts, spending their best days as avid sailors cruising everywhere from Narragansett Bay to Block Island and the Long Island Sound.
Her Greatest Legacy: Family
While she loved a good trip or a perfect bouquet, Diane’s deepest ties were to her family.
She leaves behind:
• Her Children: Bradford (and Pamela) Gardner of Vero Beach, FL; Douglas Gardner of Boulder, CO; and Cynthia (and Jack Lemery) of Wakefield, NH.
• Her Brother: Quentin Strouss of Beaver Falls PA
• Her Grandchildren: Kimberly Gardner (and fiancé, Jeff Wood) of Stamford, CT; Ryan Gardner (and fiancé, Elizabeth Herlihy) of Providence, RI; Natalie (and Taylor Bacon) of Evergreen, CO; Jessica Gardner of Santa Monica, CA; and Julia Gardner of Tampa, FL.
• Her Great-Grandchild: In late 2025, she was overjoyed to meet her first great-grandchild, Callan Bacon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren in 2001; her son, Scott Gardner, in 2008; and her sister, Quinette Strouss, in 1972.
A Final Request
Diane spent her final 14 years at Fox Hill Village in Westwood, MA, where she was the unofficial "Welcome Committee," always the first to invite a new face to dinner. At Fox Hill, she loved meals, music, movies, and her countless friends.
A private family interment and celebration of Diane’s life is planned for the summer.
In her honor, Diane’s wish was simple: gift a bouquet of flowers to someone you love and remember how important the gift of love truly is.
Harriet Diane Strouss Gardner—known to most as just Diane—found her way to her "perpetual peaceful place" on January 31, 2026, in Boston. She is finally reuniting with her husband, Warren, after twenty-five years apart; we imagine they have a lot of catching up to do after their fifty-two years of marriage.
From the Runway to the Garden
Born in Richmond, PA, on August 29, 1928, Diane didn't stay still for long. After Beaver Falls High School, she headed straight for the bright lights of New York City to launch a modeling career. She wasn't just any model—she graced the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and struck poses for the legendary photographer Richard Avedon.
In 1949, she traded the runway for the aisle, marrying Warren Gardner at the "Little Church Around the Corner" in lower Manhattan. That wedding sparked a lifelong spiritual connection to the Episcopal Church, which served as her anchor as the family moved through Wellesley MA, Pittsburgh, Erie PA, Hudson OH, Longmeadow MA, Savannah GA, and finally Westwood MA.
World of Adventure
Diane was never one to sit on the sidelines. Whether she was hosting foreign exchange students from East Africa and Iran or jet-setting to visit her son Doug in Angkor Wat, Bangkok, and Kyiv, she embraced the world with open arms. Closer to home, Diane was a force of nature:
• The Competitor: She enjoyed the golfing greens at Longmeadow CC and The Landings at Skidaway Island, GA. She was also a formidable bridge player.
• The Arts Advocate: She was a holder of Boston Symphony Orchestra season tickets for years. Her appreciation for the arts extended to her love for art museums and her time spent as a volunteer at the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts.
• The Creative: She kept a daily journal and served as the co-editor of the community literary journal at Fox Hill Village.
• The Artist: Her true passion was flower arranging, and she was particularly proud of her displays in the front entry of Fox Hill Village. Her own gardens were so beautiful they were featured on several local garden tours.
• The Skipper: She and Warren were salt-air addicts, spending their best days as avid sailors cruising everywhere from Narragansett Bay to Block Island and the Long Island Sound.
Her Greatest Legacy: Family
While she loved a good trip or a perfect bouquet, Diane’s deepest ties were to her family.
She leaves behind:
• Her Children: Bradford (and Pamela) Gardner of Vero Beach, FL; Douglas Gardner of Boulder, CO; and Cynthia (and Jack Lemery) of Wakefield, NH.
• Her Brother: Quentin Strouss of Beaver Falls PA
• Her Grandchildren: Kimberly Gardner (and fiancé, Jeff Wood) of Stamford, CT; Ryan Gardner (and fiancé, Elizabeth Herlihy) of Providence, RI; Natalie (and Taylor Bacon) of Evergreen, CO; Jessica Gardner of Santa Monica, CA; and Julia Gardner of Tampa, FL.
• Her Great-Grandchild: In late 2025, she was overjoyed to meet her first great-grandchild, Callan Bacon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren in 2001; her son, Scott Gardner, in 2008; and her sister, Quinette Strouss, in 1972.
A Final Request
Diane spent her final 14 years at Fox Hill Village in Westwood, MA, where she was the unofficial "Welcome Committee," always the first to invite a new face to dinner. At Fox Hill, she loved meals, music, movies, and her countless friends.
A private family interment and celebration of Diane’s life is planned for the summer.
In her honor, Diane’s wish was simple: gift a bouquet of flowers to someone you love and remember how important the gift of love truly is.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harriet “Diane” Strouss Gardner, please visit our flower store.
Harriet “Diane” Strouss Gardner's Guestbook
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