NEW GLASGOW – Arna Virginia Gardner, 81, Maritime Odd Fellows Home, Pictou, formerly of New Glasgow, passed away Friday, April 20, 2012 in the home, surrounded by family.

Born in Laconia, Lunenburg County, she was a daughter of the late Arnold Bertram and Ethel Mae (Veinot) Johnson. She was a faithful member of First United Baptist Church, New Glasgow. Arna had been employed as a seamstress for a number of years and with Peoples Jewellers for 11 years, retiring in 1992. She was Past Matron of Century Chapter No. 10, Order of the Eastern Star, New Glasgow and an affiliated member of Elm Chapter No. 48, OES, Upper Stewiacke.

Surviving are her husband of 58 years, Murray F. “Mike” Gardner, New Glasgow; daughters, Dianne (Blake) Storey, Sydney River; Linda Gardner, Vancouver, B.C.; Nancy (Kelly) Verbicky, Portland, Oregon; son, Craig Gardner (Andrea Schmaltz), Ottawa, Ont.; grandchildren, Shannon (Doug), Andrew (Brianna), Aaron, Taylor, Mitchell and Meaghan; great-grandchildren, Nathaniel “Nate”, Erica and Michael; “special daughter”, Deborah Cowley, Vancouver; step-mother, Julie Johnson, Bridgewater; sisters, June O’Brien, Judy Joudrey, Bridgewater; brothers, Arnie (Sandra) Johnson, Jack (Ruby) Johnson, Coldbrook; Maynard Johnson, Bridgewater; sisters-in-law, Hilda Emenau, Liverpool; Frances (Harry) Kuniholm, Athol, Mass.; several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her brother, Richard Johnson; brothers-in-law, Ross (Ruth) Gardner and Ted Emenau.

The family will receive visitors 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 in P. & K. MacDonald Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 25 in First United Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Stanton presiding. Interment will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25  in Seaside Cemetery, Brooklyn, Queens County.

Century Chapter No. 10, OES service will be held 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 in the funeral home.

Family flowers only. Donations may be made in Arna’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia.

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