Oct. 29, 1933 - Jan. 15, 2011

SOUTH BEND - Margaret Erstina (Skodinski) Gardner, 77, residing in South Bend, IN, passed away at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011, inher home. She was born on October 29, 1933, in South Bend, IN, to the late Arthur Richard and Helen (Dingman) Skodinski, and was the oldest of three children. Margaret attended Thomas Jefferson School in South Bend and graduated from John Adams High School in 1951. From 1952-1953, she attended and completed an airline school in California, after which she returned to South Bend and became employed for WSBT Radio and TV stations. During the 1950s she made television appearances on the "Hoosier Favorite" show. In 1989, after 11 years of service, she retired as the head housekeeper of the Roseland Holiday Inn. On August 16, 1958, Margaret married D. Gene Gardner at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, South Bend. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Gene, and by her brother, Richard Skodinski. She is survived by her five children, Deborah (David) Zarzyka of Granger, Meg (Marty) Moon of Hayward, WI, Pamela (Rich) Eddy of Niles, MI, David (Judy) Gardner of Brazil, IN, and Robert Joseph Gardner of South Bend; seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and one great-grandchild; her sister, Sharon Long of Fairport, New York; and sister-in-law, Kay Skodinski of Niantic, CT. Margaret was a charter member of the Roseland Citizens' Association, a community group co-founded by her husband in 1968. She served as the director of community events of that organization in 1974 and as secretary in 1978. Along with her husband, she was a lifetime member of the Indiana University Alumni Association. Margaret was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church her entire life, and for many years was a member of the Altar Guild, the Women's Circle, the Prayer Chain group and the Fellowship Club. She served as both president and vice president of the Altar Guild. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2011, in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN 46637. Rev. Gregory Fiechtner will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 p.m. today in Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, and one hour prior to services on Tuesday in the church. Contributions in memory of Margaret Gardner may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or to The Center for Hospice Care.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

Published in South Bend Tribune on January 17, 2011.

09/22/2022 DEC