Phyllis E. (Gardner) Riordan, age 71, of Brockton, died suddenly Friday, June 9, 2017 at Massachusetts General Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She had courageously fought pancreatic cancer for six years, and finally succumbed to complications. Phyllis was the beloved wife of George Riordan for 45 years. Phyllis was born in Brockton and was a lifetime resident of the city. She was the daughter of the late Philip E. and Frances T. (Capparotta) Gardner. She was a graduate of Brockton High School, class of 1963, and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Bridgewater State College. Phyllis was a teacher and adjustment counselor for Brockton Public Schools for over 35 years, and retired in 2005.
Phyllis’ greatest joy was spending time with her seven grandchildren. Throughout her life, she also enjoyed watching her children’s sporting events and recitals, attending Broadway musicals, playing Whist, making “Gramma’s” Italian meatballs, and especially, spending her summers in North Falmouth with her friends and family.
Phyllis is also survived by her children, Jennifer Riordan-Hill and her husband, David, of Mansfield, Kevin Riordan and his wife, Moria, of Milton, and Katie Riordan and her husband, Bryan Abramoske, of North Easton; her seven grandchildren, John, Larry, Padraig, Catherine, William, Margaret Phyllis, and Andrew; her sisters, Judy Connolly and her husband, Richard, of South Yarmouth, and Denise Boutin and her husband, John, of Raynham; and devoted family friend, Kathy Sirois, of Brockton.
Visiting Hours will be held in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton, Wednesday 4-8pm. The funeral procession will gather at the funeral home Thursday at 9:30am for a funeral Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church at 10:30am. Burial will be in Coweeset Cemetery, Brockton. Please consider donations in her name to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: 1500 Rosencrans Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266, for online donations click here