DUDLEY- Patricia (Gardiner) Busch, 66, of 41 Lakeview Avenue, died Sunday, September 16, 2007, in Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital, Worcester.
She leaves her husband of 44 years, Dr. Frederick L. Busch; a son, Lee F. Busch and his partner Jayme of Somerville; a daughter, Debra, wife of William Blakeman of Orange; her mother, Irma (Curn) Gardiner of Brewster, NY; a sister, Holly, wife of Barry Cohen of Brewster, NY; a grandson, Alex Blakeman; 4 nephews, Brice Wachterhauser, his wife Mary and their children Anya, wife of Jene Clark, and Kier Wachterhauser, Mark Wachterhauser, Scott Dravis and his family Debbie, Michael, Nicole, Kristine and Amanda, and Greg Dravis, his wife Cheryl and daughter Amy; 2 nieces, Terri Cohen and Dana, wife of Josh Molaver and their children Sydney and Jacob; special friends that she considered family, Marcia Wagner, Pamela Germaine and her husband and 2 children, Julie Margolis and her family, and many others.
She was born in New York City and raised in Suffern, NY, the daughter of the late Jack Gardiner. She graduated from Suffern High School in 1958. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1963. She also completed many graduate courses dealing with early education.
She married her childhood sweetheart, her first and only love and soul mate, on September 7, 1963. She lived in Philadelphia until Fred graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a VMD in 1965. They moved to New Jersey where he practiced veterinary medicine until 1968. They moved to Webster in 1968 and to Dudley in 1969.
Mrs. Busch worked with her husband at his small animal hospital in Thompson from the time it opened until December 2003 when he retired. She was also a teacher at the Discovery House Preschool for over 20 years before retiring due to illness. There she displayed a special love and bonding for children, and again made lifetime friendships with her co-workers.
She was an active and then honorary member of the Hubbard Regional Hospital Guild, where she had held many offices and had volunteered at the hospital gift shop. She was a member of the Tuesday Club, the Friends of the Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley and the Friends of the Chester C. Corbin Public Library in Webster. She was one of the 6 members of the Clara Barton Quilt Group, where she made lasting friendships with the quilters and their families. Along with her husband, she was a longtime member of the International Wine and Food Society of Central Mass. and served as secretary of the organization for 15 years. She also belonged to a Worcester County wine educational group and held positions there. She enjoyed quilting, gardening and art, wine and food societies and traveling. Along with her husband, she supported many environmental organizations.
A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, September 20, at 11:00 AM in Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main St. Webster. Burial will be in Waldron Cemetery. Calling hours are from 5:00 to 8:00 Wednesday, September 19, in the funeral home. Donations in her name may be made to either Why Me Sherry’s House, 1152 Pleasant Street, Worcester 01602, or to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Programs for Children, 10 Brookline Place, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.