Kristen M. Gardner, 45, of Washington, passed away on Jan. 4 as a result of an automobile accident.
Kristen was born in Whitinsville, Mass., on March 19, 1965, the daughter of Donald LaVange and Barbara Louise Hanson and grew up in Uxbridge, Mass. She graduated from Toll Gate High School in Warwick, R.I. and attended BYU and the Community College of Rhode Island.
She married David Gardner on July 4, 1986 and worked as a waitress at Brook Manor in North Attleboro, Mass. and owned and operated the Sun Rise Inn in Cumberland, R.I. as well as The Good Life Restaurant in Providence, R.I. After coming to Maine, she worked at the Sail Loft, Cappy’s Chowder House, the Whitehall Inn and several other restaurants in the area. She and her husband were well-known from working many local fairs selling falafel and gyros.
She had a lifelong desire to find a daughter that she gave up for adoption. She loved the beauty of the Camden Hills, mountains and the water. She was a lover of babies, fine food and wines, Bob Dylan and Neil Young music, and her family said she was the “world’s greatest mother.”
She is survived by her husband of 24 years, David Gardner of Washington; daughter, Ivy Louise Gardner, a student at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa; sons, Donald Wesley Gardner of Eustis, Cameron LaVange Gardner of Salt Lake City, Utah and Dylan Ram Gardner of Salt Lake City, Utah; step son, Ian Douglas Gardner of Cumberland, R.I.; mother, Barbara DiLiddo of Skowhegan; father, Donald H. LaVange and step-mother, Pauline LaVange of Cumberland, R.I.; brother, Donald H. LaVange Jr. of Pleasant Grove, Utah; and sisters, Kathleen Susan Randall of No. Attleboro, Mass., Nancy Jane Beaman of Crestwood, Ky. and Brenda Lynn LaVange-Stewart of St. Joseph, Mich.
Celebration of Kristen’s life 4 p.m., Tues., Jan. 11 at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro, with the family leading the service.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories and photos with Kristen’s family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Waldoboro.
