Bernice C. Gardiner, 66, of New Boston, NH, died Friday, December 30, 2005 in the Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH. Mrs. Gardiner was born in Nashua, NH on January 17, 1939, a daughter of the late Bernard and Mabel (Nugent) Plummer. She was a resident of New Boston for the past eight years, formerly living in Derry, NH and Londonderry, NH. She was raised in Londonderry and graduated from Pinkerton Academy, Class of 1956. She married Robert W. Gardiner, Sr. on June 16, 1956. Mrs. Gardiner served for 13 years at the Appalachian Bible College in Bradley, WV where she was secretary to the Vice President of the college. She spent the last seven years as the Pastor's secretary at Merrimack Valley Baptist Church where she has been a member for 19 1/2 years. She loved sewing and quilting and belonged to a quilting group at the church.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Robert W. Gardiner, Sr. of New Boston, a daughter, Karen Armstrong and her husband Jeff of Amherst, NH, a son, Robert W. Gardiner, Jr. and his wife Susan of Weare, NH, five grandchildren, Angela, Joelle, Melissa, Samara and Melanie, four sisters, Lora Van de Bogart of Port Orange, FL, Bette Moreau of Gilford, NH, Susan Miller of Bedford, NH, Diane Lamb of Weare, and by numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two grandchildren, Nicholas Gardiner and Gabriella Armstrong and two sisters, Lida Wilson and Carolyn Socci.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 11:00AM in the Merrimack Valley Baptist Church, 101A and Boston Post Rd., Merrimack, NH. Calling hours were held from 5-8pm, Monday, January 2nd at the Peabody Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. The burial will be held in the spring in the Glenwood Cemetery, Londonderry.