FATHER GEORGE JOHN GARDNER

FATHER GEORGE JOHN GARDNER
Wassai Giizhagaad
In loving memory of Father George John Gardner (Wassai Giizhagaad), 87 years, who passed peacefully on January 15, 2024. Beloved son of the late Ernestine Grossinger and George Gardner Senior. Father Gardner was predeceased by brothers Henry (Julie Ferro) and George; sisters Lily (Lucien Brunet), Gertrude (Ernie Kells) and Susan (Cliff Harfield). Father Gardner was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary (Lukie) and his step-children Anthony (Tony) wife Anita Huska, Melvina ‘Molly’ Guyan (Mickey) and Helen Smith (Bill). He leaves behind 13 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From the Gardner family he also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. Father Gardner had a long and storied career at Canada Cement (later Lafarge Canada, Lafarge Holcim and currently Holcim Group) and built the terminal in Whitefish River First Nation. Both were associations he kept right up until his passing. With strong ties to Whitefish River First Nation, Father Gardner was named an honorary chief by then Chief Leona Nahwegabow and given his spirit name, Wassai Giizhagaad, by community members Archie and Violet McGregor baa. His latest involvement on behalf of Holcim Group was negotiating a new lease for the Lafarge Canada Whitefish Terminal. A devout Catholic, Father Gardner took on holy orders following the passing of his wife Mary and continued to serve as the parish priest at St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church right up until his passing. Bishop Robert Harris ordained Father Gardner as a deacon on October 29, 2006 at St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church in Little Current and was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 2007 by Bishop Most Reverand Jean-Louis Plouffe D.D., also at St Bernard Church. Father Gardner took up appointments on June 23, 2007 at St. Bernard’s and at St. Gabriel Lalement Church in Birch Island. A private service was held on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 3 pm at Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home in Sudbury. The service was livestreamed online and can be viewed online at the following link, https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcwNTk3NzA3OTI5MjAxMSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==. Donations in memoriam can be made to the Papineau Fund c/o Our Lady of Canada, Box 294 Mindemoya, ON, P0P 1S0 or the Ontario SPCA Sudbury and District at 21 Lasalle Blvd, Sudbury, ON P3A 6B1. St. Bernard’s Parish will be holding a service in Father Gardner’s memory in mid-March.