Joan D. Gardner

Joan D. Gardner, 68, of Lawrence, MA died Monday, May 9th at Merrimack County Hospice House in Haverhill, surrounded by her loving family, following a long, courageous battle against cancer and a rare neurological disorder called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).

Joan was born in Somerville, MA on October 18, 1942, the daughter of the late Venerio and Doris (Winship) Baldacci. She graduated from Tewksbury High School in 1960.

Joan was an avid sports fan who closely followed all of the Boston teams. She especially enjoyed watching the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. She enjoyed going out for dinner and going to the movies with friends, watching plays, and reading. But Joan’s greatest love was being a mother. Her main focus in life was her four children, and later on, her seven grandchildren.

Joan is survived by her former husband, Richard Gardner; a daughter, Gayle Gardner; three sons, Steven, David, and Matthew Gardner; two sisters, Donna Rudd and Diane Arsenault; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Michael Baldacci.

Donations in addition to those listed on the charities page can be made to: Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill at Home Health Foundation, Attn: Lauren Galimi, Development Associate, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg 9, Entrance I, Lawrence, MA 01843 or online at www.homehealthvna.org