Eleanor Mae Gardner

Eleanor Mae (Schoonover) Gardner, 87, of Temple, died December 24, 2013, in Berks Heim, Bern Township.

She was the wife of Paul Charles Gardner whom she married September 13, 1947.

Born December 18, 1926, in Laureldale, she was a daughter of the late James Laughlin and Nellie Mae (Bunnell) Schoonover.

Eleanor was a 1944 graduate of Muhlenberg High School.

Before raising her family, she was employed as a secretary with New York and Pennsylvania Motor Express.

Eleanor was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Laureldale.

She also was a member and past president of both Laureldale Garden Club and Reading Hospital Auxiliary, Muhlenberg Branch. She cherished her time spent as Girl Scout Leader of Troop 42. A lover of music, she used to sing with the chorus of the Reading Civic Opera. Eleanor's gift of writing poetry, often inspired by nature, won the 2010 Berks Encore Poetry Contest for her poem "It's Spring!" She volunteered in the community at the Muhlenberg Community Library reading to children, and delivered meals on wheels. Eleanor was a devoted wife and mother as well as a friend to many. She was thoughtful, always had a kind word for everyone, looked for the good in each person she met, and lent a helping hand when she could.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three children: April L., wife of Stephen L. Richards of Laureldale; Pamela E., wife of Steven Young of Muhlenberg Township and Brooke P., husband of D. Robin (Smith) Gardner of Muhlenberg Township. Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive her.

Eleanor was predeceased by her three sisters, her identical twin, Elaine Kramer, Lorraine Bare and Ruth Richards.

Services will be Monday at 11 a.m. in Kuhn-Stitzel Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading. Contributions may be made to: Calvary Lutheran Church, 1009 Elizabeth Avenue, Laureldale, PA 19605. Online condolences may be recorded at http://www.kuhnstitzelfuneralhomes.com.