Kathleen Gardner

COURTESY
NEWPORT — Kathleen Patricia Gardner, “Kathy”, 60, of Newport passed away at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut on Sept. 20. She had battled for many years with Addison’s disease.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on July 4, 1958, she was a daughter of Ella V. (Hamel) Woods of Colchester, Connecticut and the late Edward Woods. Kathleen married Keith Gardner on July 3, 1999. The couple made their home in Newport and shared 18 years together before he predeceased her on Oct. 25, 2015.

Kathleen was retired after a career as a school bus driver for the Newport School District. She loved children and touched many lives bringing them to and from school. Kathleen loved the outdoors, especially camping and fishing. She was also an avid Red Sox and Patriots Fan. Most importantly, she will be remembered by her family for her loving devotion, her heart of gold, her desire to help anyone, anytime, and how she loved to share her time with them.

She will be sadly missed but always remembered with love by her mother, Ella “Nana” Woods; son Jeffrey and his wife Serena Neault of Sugar Hill, Georgia; stepdaughter Tanna Gardner of Clearwater Florida; stepdaughter Nikki Gardner and her husband Martin Gonzales of Coolidge, Arizona; stepdaughter Heather Bagley and her husband Arty Bagley of Sugar Hill, Georgia; six grandchildren, Keagen, Mackenzie, Kalen, Aiden, Aliah and Faith; siblings, Gary Woods and his wife Nancy of Lowell, Massachusetts, Ed Woods and his wife Carol of Clearwater, Florida, Karen Conroy and her husband Ray of Colchester, Connecticut, and Cyndy Woods of Clearwater, Florida; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A graveside service will take place at 1 p.m. on Oct. 27 at Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport followed by a celebration of life at the Moose in Newport. Donations in her memory may be made to New Hampshire Special Olympics (www.give.specialolympics.org)