Jane H. Gardner

Jane Helen (O’Brien) Gardner, 98, a resident of Buckley Health Care Center, Greenfield, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2023. Jane was born on September 3, 1925 in Cambridge, MA, the daughter of Daniel and Helen (Davis) O’Brien. She was a graduate of Cambridge Latin School and Kathleen Dell Secretarial School in Brookline, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from Kathleen Dell, she was employed as a medical secretary in a primary care office in Cambridge, MA.

She married Charles Edmond Gardner July 14, 1953 in Cambridge, MA. They resided in Cambridge and moved to Groton, MA in 1958. Her husband Charles (Ed) and the family lived in Groton, MA where Charles was employed as accountant at the Episcopal College Preparatory Boarding Groton School. The couple had their first home built in Groton, a traditional New England cape style home. In 1962, the family relocated to Deerfield, MA where Charles took on a new position at Eaglebrook Preparatory Boarding School. The family took on a new lifestyle living on the campus with faculty and students, attending the dining hall each evening. In the summer of 1963, she and her family moved to their new home in Greenfield, MA on Bungalow Avenue. She lived in the homestead for 57 years. She loved to have couples over to play the game of Bridge and socialize. Years later, brought other games - mahjong and the board game of scrabble. Jane was an avid reader and each day she completed the newspaper crossword puzzle. She was a volunteer for the women’s auxiliary at Franklin Medical Center and worked in the gift shop. She loved bowling and for many years was in a league. She was an avid Red Sox fan and was a member of the BFA.

Annual fall trips brought her and husband Charles to Philbrook Farm Inn, in eastern Shelburne, New Hampshire, along with the annual drive along the Kancamagus Highway viewing the fall foliage. She and her husband drove up to Mount Washington to view the notches and the beautiful fall hues. Summer vacations with the children were spent along the seashore of Wells and Kennebunkport, Maine. She loved to bask in the sun with a book and evenings brought fresh seafood - especially clam chowder, whole belly clams and lobster.

After getting settled in Greenfield, the children attended Four Corners Elementary School. In 1963, she ventured out and became a secretary for the School District of Greenfield and was employed for 20 years. Retirement arose and she continued to volunteer at the local medical center and joined many Bridge Card groups.

She was a communicant of The Episcopal Church of Saint James and Andrew in Greenfield, where she was a member of the Altar Guild Society. An abundance of heartfelt recognition and sincere appreciation is being given to the amazing staff on the fourth floor at Buckley Health Care Center-Regal Care in Greenfield where Jane was a resident.

Jane is remembered by a husband, (pre-deceased 2003 Charles (Ed) a son, Jeffrey Edmond (Debra) of Arroyo Grande, CA a daughter (pre-deceased 2020) Nancy Jane, Son–in-Law Brad Hosmer of Colrain, MA and grandchildren, Christopher, Arroyo Grande, CA and Katherine Gardner, Morgan Hill, CA and Adam Hosmer (Keri) of Northfield, MA, Shannon Rowell (Kevin) and great granddaughter Peyton Rowell, pre-deceased brothers Charles and Ralph O’Brien.

Private inurnment will take place at the convenience of the family in Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, MA. Memorial contributions in Jane’s memory are suggested to St. James and Andrew Episcopal Church, 8 Church Street, Greenfield, MA 01301 or to the Friends of the Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301.

The McCarthy Funeral Homes, Greenfield and Turners Falls, MA, have been entrusted with the arrangements. Expressions of one’s affection, maybe directed to Jane’s Tribute Wall at www.mccarthyfuneralhomes.com

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