Helen (Kleiner) Gardner, of Jacksonville, Florida passed away on October 9, 2024 at the age of 95.
Helen was born on September 18, 1929 to Leopold and Teresa Kleiner in Newark, New Jersey. Helen graduated from Barringer High School in February of 1947 and then attended the Washington Business School in Newark for a secretarial program.
Helen had a career as a field supervisor in the research department at M&M Mars in Hackettstown, New Jersey, where she met her husband.
On May 9, 1959 she married Samuel Gardner. Together they had 3 children, and Helen created a warm home for her family as Sam continued his career at M&M Mars. Helen shared her love of nature with her children and grew corn, pumpkins and tomatoes in the family garden. In addition, she was an avid tennis player for many years.
In 1993, after Sam’s retirement, they moved to Venice, Florida. Helen become immersed in collecting items she found on the beach – shells, sharks’ teeth, fossils, dead fish and other interesting items. She was an enthusiastic traveler who went on safari in Africa, hiked through Machu Picchu, and sailed to the Galapagos Islands. She was excited to try new adventures, including making her first parachute jump in her 90s. Helen played competitively in bridge tournaments and achieved the rank of Life Master.
Helen was predeceased by her husband Samuel and sister Norma. She is survived by her loving children, Keith, Andrea and Kenneth. She is also survived by her grandchildren Samantha Canty-Gardner, Marshall Gardner; Carrie, Lisa and David Wu; and Marielle, Elen and Patrick Gardner, and her great-grandson Dylan Canty-Gardner. She is also survived by numerous friends and family including Kathi, Vince, and Mary, nieces Debbie Favire and Paula Hoffman, and many others.
A celebration of Helen’s life will be held at a future time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to BEAM which provides social services in Jacksonville (jaxbeam.org), an organization which Helen supported during her life.
