BERTA GARDNER

BERTA GARDNER July 8, 1932 ~ September 29, 2023
Miriam Alberta Gardner, beloved wife of the late Frederick James Gardner, passed away at the Peter Lougheed Center in Calgary on Friday, September 29, 2023, at the age of 91 years. Our beautiful, sweet, loving Mother, Granny, Great-Granny, Sister and Aunt has gained her heavenly wings.
Left to cherish Berta’s memory are her children: Judy Hill, Dave (Sandy) Gardner, Bill (Lois) Gardner and Ken (Cindy) Gardner: nine grandchildren: Melanie (Wayne) Gour, Ryan (Nina) Hill, Wendy (Kelly) Jones, Cathy Gardner (Dave Schram), Scott Gardner (Shelly Logan), Megan Gardner (Justin McLellan), Nathan Gardner (Kelsey Walker), Dustin (Amy) Gardner and Lynsey (Jeff) Durback as well as fifteen very dear great-grands. Berta is also survived by her brothers, David Cartwright and Albert (Sheila) Rowbottom; sisters-in-law, Diana Gardner, Cecile Gardner and Darlene Gardner; brothers-in-law, Stan (Marge) Gardner and Dennis Gardner as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her loving parents, Miriam (Albert) Cartwright and step-father, Albert Rowbottom; step-siblings, Edna (Bruce) Forsythe and Tom (May) Rowbottom; brothers, Herb (Dot) Cartwright and Bill (Hazel) Cartwright; half siblings, Lois (Jim) Steinberg and Helen (John) Beck; sister-in-law, Janet Cartwright; son-in-law, Fred Hill and great-granddaughter, Hayley Gardner.
Berta was born on July 08, 1932 in Merritt, B.C. As the eldest of a large blended family, she very early learned to cook, clean, run a household and care for young children. When she met Fred at the age of 16, she was well prepared to be married, and so they did on October 10, 1948 in Kamloops B.C. At the time, Fred was working at a logging camp. It wasn’t long and Berta was baking bread, pies and full meals for the entire crew! Over their 72 years of marriage, they moved 26 times covering B.C., Saskatchewan and Alberta. Each time Berta took on new jobs and always excelled at what she did all the while rasing four children. No matter how small or old the house, she made it into a cozy lovely home for her family; the highlight always being a beautiful yard and garden.
After barbering for a number of years, Fred eventually became a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool agent and after living in a few locations, they moved to the Kindersley/Pinkham area. It was there that Berta found her special joy. She joined the local Embroiders Guild eventually becoming the leader. She did many kinds of embroidery but when an instructor from New York arrived to teach the rudiments of Brazilian Dimensional Embroidery, Berta really found her niche, taking many courses to achieve her instructors status. When they moved to Medicine Hat in 1992, she set up her business in the basement of her home and from there grew it into a very popular hobby taken by many dozens of Medicine Hat ladies. Berta was an excellent teacher and loved by all. The business continues to this day thanks to her protégé, Michele Roll! And just to prove she could do anything, when Fred started a wood carving business, she took that up as well. Her family and friends have so many mementos to treasure.
In 2017, a final move was made to independent assisted living at the newly built Masterpiece Southlands Meadows where Berta made new friends and had all the help she needed when Fred passed in 2020. What a beautiful and well run facility for Berta to spend her final years. Berta’s family is forever grateful to Masterpiece!
Though Berta was in severe chronic pain and a lot of illness, those around her never knew the extent of it…she was always smiling, caring and had only good words for everyone.
A memorial celebration will be held in the spring of 2024. Further details will be announced closer to the date. (Condolences may be shared by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com). Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral
Chapel Crematorium &
Reception Facility
901 – 13th Street S.W.
Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4
Phone 403-527-6455
www.cooksouthland.com
“Locally owned & directed”