Obituary of Gardiner Joseph McDonald

After a brief illness, the passing of Gardiner McDonald, husband of Betty McDonald (Craft) of Grand Bay-Westfield occurred on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was born on October 16, 1932 at Saint John to the late Angus and Flora (MacKinnon) McDonald. As a teenager, Gardiner worked side by side with his father as a woodsman. He operated the family store in PEI until relocating back to Grand Bay in 1964. Gardiner worked at CPR Bay Shore and with various construction companies, retired in 1994 after 20 years as a longshoreman due to health issues. He was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church and a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 9176. His hobbies included gardening, fishing, golfing and bowling. Above all, Gardiner loved his family; he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his loving wife Betty, three sons: John (Tracy) of Edmonton, AB, their children: Shannon and Matthew; Ron (Joan) of Fredericton, their children: Holly, Laura and Andrew; and Bill (Sue) of Saint John their daughter, Krista; one daughter, Joan Anderson (Bruce) of Grand Bay-Westfield, their children: Jarrid, Jordan and Ben; one great grandson, Connor; two brothers in-law: John Craft and Richard Duffy; three sisters in-law: Marjorie Webb, Joan Craft and Catherine Craft and several nieces and nephews. Resting at Brenan's Bay View Select Community Funeral Home, 1461 Manawagonish Road, Saint John (634-7425) with visiting on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Matthew Church, Dollard Drive, Grand Bay-Westfield on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 10 am. Interment will take place in St. Augustine's Cemetery. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Saint John Palliative Care Unit, Hospice of Greater Saint John or the charity of the donor's choice.