Margaret "Marge" Gardner

Margaret "Marge" (Hockey) Gardner, longtime resident of Naperville, IL, went to eternal rest on December 22, 2025. Survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, Jim; dearest daughters Carlye (Bob) Fallon of Glenview, IL and Trisha (Matt) Rothgangel of St. Louis, MO.; her loving grandchildren, Conor Fallon, and Reese and Tommy Rothgangel; her fond sister-in-law Barbara Hockey of Downers Grove, IL and brother-in-law John Gardner of Chillicothe, IL; cousin and friend to many. Preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Elsie Hockey; her cherished brother Dennis Hockey, and brother-in-law Ken Gardner.
Born January 10, 1949 in Chicago, Marge attended St. Gall School before the family moved to Naperville in 1959. Marge graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul in 1962, Naperville Central High School in 1966, and Northern Illinois University in 1970. While attending NIU, Marge met the love of her life, Jim, and they married in 1971. She began her teaching career at Annunciation Catholic School in Aurora, and then Central Middle School in Tinley Park before taking time off to have children.
Marge's greatest joy was being a mom, and she loved her daughters Carlye and Trisha fiercely. Marge and Jim started their family in Woodridge and then moved to Naperville in 1983, where their Collingwood Drive neighbors became 'family' over 40+ years. After tutoring high school math from home when her daughters were little, Marge returned to the classroom, teaching sixth-grade math and English at Washington Junior High and then Kennedy Junior High. Marge retired (with Jim) from Naperville School District 203 in 2004.
Throughout her retirement, Marge loved volunteering at Sharing Connections in Downers Grove, where she was recognized earlier this year for her 7,500 hours of service over 20 years. She was also an active member of St. Margaret Mary Parish, serving in various ministries.
Marge cherished her friends-and they cherished her. Marge's friendships go back 50+ years. Her generosity was endless, and she had an innate gift of making others feel special. She loved spending time with her friends over meals, coffee, traveling together, and was a talented gardener and baker. A voracious reader and Jeopardy! viewer, Marge was always up for learning something new, and she instilled that curiosity in her children and grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025 from 1pm – 5pm at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 29, 2025 at 11am at St. Margaret Mary Church, 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville, Ill. 60540. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marge's memory to Sharing Connections of Downers Grove at www.sharingconnections.org.