Gloria M. Gardner

Gardner, Gloria M., 87, a lifelong resident of the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on May 8, 2012. She was preceded in death by her brother Joseph Gardner of California and her sisters Dorothy Morgan of Fairfax and Elizabeth Houseman of Richmond. She is survived by her niece and nephew-in-law, Patricia and John Weaver and their children Chris and Matthew of Richmond, VA and her niece Claudia Dobbs and her daughter Vika of California. She was a long time active member of St. Rita’s Parish in Alexandria and she leaves behind a long legacy of love and caring as she touched many lives throughout her long and active life. Her work career began at 18 in 1941 as an office clerk for the C & P Telephone Company and from 1943 to 1945, during World War II she worked as a stenographer for the U.S. Navy. Following the war, she was employed as an executive secretary for Bendall Pontiac for approximately twenty years and then she continued her employment for an additional twenty years working at Northrop Grumman. During all her years of employment, she inspired many lives and made lifelong friends that will miss her dearly.

There will be a viewing from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday May 11th at the National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA. There will be a Funeral Mass Saturday May 12th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 3815 Russell Rd., Alexandria VA followed by the Internment at National Memorial Park Cemetery, 7482 Lee Highway in Falls Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Skills Development Center, P.O. Box 1436, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (a 501(c)(3) organization working with young adults over eighteen who are diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities) or St. Rita’s Parish, 3815 Russell Rd., Alexandria, VA 22305.