…formerly of Melrose, MA; 90
SALEM, NH - Esther Mae (Despart) Gardner, age 90, a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister, died Wednesday morning, August 26, at the Bear Hill Nursing Center in Stoneham, following a long period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of the late Maurice Lester Gardener Jr.
Mrs. Gardner was born May 5, 1925, a daughter of the late Edward and Mildred (Spoon) Despart, and raised in Rensselaer, N.Y. She lived the greater part of her life in Melrose, Massachusetts, where she raised her family of six. She retired to Salem, NH in 2005.
She will be remembered as having devoted her life to God and her family.
She is survived by five children, Paula Ciampa and Maurice “Micky” Gardner III all of Stoneham, Stephen Gardener of RI, Patricia “Trish” Pozerski and her husband Steven of Salem, NH; eight grandchildren, Jacie Clowery-Broughton, Jarrod Clowery, Jenna Ciampa, Stephen Gardner, Lindsey Gardner, Erica Gardner, Sara McNair, and Maurice “Micky” Gardner IV; fourteen great grandchildren; a great great granddaughter, Olive; a sister, Eunice Bicowitz of FL; a brother, Edward Despart of NY; and many nieces and nephews.
She was also mother of the late David Gardner and Esther Gardner; and sister of the late Patricia Demas and Wayne Despart.
At her request funeral services were private. Arrangements are through the Tewksbury Funeral Home.