Denise M. Gardner, 61, of Coldwater, passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Maple Lawn Medical care facility.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 8, 2021 from 10:00 a.m.-12 noon at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. The funeral service will be held Monday, February 8, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. It will be a private service but may be watched live, via webcast at the time scheduled on the Dutcher Funeral Home website.
Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Quincy.
Denise was born May 29, 1959 in Battle Creek, MI to Charles & Bonnalyn (Gray) Smith. She married Rick D. Gardner on March 25, 1977 in Coldwater.
Denise was a Certified Nurse Assistant, working at the Community Health Center of Branch County for 20 years. She loved what she did very much and never missed the opportunity to stop and speak to former patients or their family while out and about, to check in and see how they were doing. She made everyone feel special and as if you were a part of her own family. When she wasn’t at work, she enjoyed spending time with her husband and two children, one of her favorite things to do was to drive up to Saugatuck for the day, right as summer was beginning to turn into fall and admire all the tree leaves as they had begun changing colors.
If you had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Denise Gardner, then you also know that she always had a smile on her face, and with her, you would always feel as if you were at home. Many will remember her as an amazing wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandma, co-worker, and caregiver. She will be greatly missed by so many people.
Denise is survived by her husband Rick, her children Danielle Gardner (Juan Fuentes) of Kalamazoo, Tyler (Britany) Gardner of Quincy, her siblings Charlie (Song Suk) Smith of Battle Creek, Steve (Jennifer) Smith of Coldwater, Mark (Kristie) McRae of Quincy, her grandchildren Jenascia Conner, Armando Fuentes, Adriana Fuentes, Ailani Fuentes, Enrique Fuentes, Kaleb Handy, and Avah Gardner.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dennis Smith and an infant brother David Smith.
Memorials may be directed to Maple Lawn Activity Fund. www.dutcherfh.com.
It has been many years since I have seen Denise but she has always had a special place in my heart. Her smile was contagious. Sending love and hugs to her family.