Xiuhua “Candy” Gardner, 57, of Johnston, passed away on April 27, 2026 in the West View Nursing Home, West Warwick after a year long battle with cancer. She was the beloved widow of Jonathan A. Gardner.
Born in Guang Zhou, China, Candy made her home in Rhode Island, where she was known for her quiet strength and caring nature.
Candy was a fashion major in college studying fashion design. After graduation she became a pattern maker for several Fashion Houses in China. After moving to the United States, she took a job as a sushi chef, one of her many talents. Most recent employment was as a food preparer at Whole Foods but, her true passion was sewing and caring for others.
She leaves behind her mother, Chen Huizhen, her brother Zhongping Huang and his wife Huãhua, sister-in-law, Sharon Dias of FL and brother-in-law, Jeffrey Gardner and his wife Barbara of OH. Many nieces, Aunts and Uncles and a nephew. Candy was predeceased by her father, Huang Shu-kang.
Family and friends are invited to attend funeral service at 10:00 a.m. on Friday in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Route 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Burial will follow at Acote’s Cemetery.