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Robinson Funeral Home and Crematory - Downtown - Easley

305 West Main Street

Easley, South Carolina

Lilia Gardner Obituary

Name: Mass of Christian Burial for Lilia Gardner
Start: 2018-05-26T18:00:00.000Z
Location: St. Andrew Catholic Church

Lilia Gardner Clemson, SC - Mrs. Lilia "Lee" M. Gardner, a proud immigrant and a woman of faith who saw the hand of God at every turn in her life, died May 19, 2018, at her home in Clemson, S.C. She was 91. Mrs. Gardner was born on June 30, 1926, in Bogota, Colombia, to Francisco and Isabel Mogollon, the second of four daughters. By age 4 she was reading the newspaper. When her mother was widowed, young Lilia's education was entrusted to Catholic sisters, who encouraged her accelerated studies. She earned a teaching certificate but she was so young, schools were reluctant to hire her. She began bookkeeping for a company that transferred her to the United States, where she met a young sailor and future husband, LeRoy E. Gardner. They had six children together as the family moved among Navy bases from coast to coast. She became a U.S. citizen in San Diego, after being detained at the Mexican border after a family day trip. When the family finally settled in Goose Creek, S.C., Lee turned to a long-deferred vocation: teaching. She organized a Catholic Parish School of Religion at the Navy base at MenRiv, where she trained scores of teachers and over the years helped prepare hundreds of children for First Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. She and many of her teachers later transferred their work to the Charleston Air Force Base, and later to the Catholic Community of Goose Creek, which she helped to establish and eventually build. Surviving are her sisters, Mariella Mogollon de Belalcazar (Randolfo) and Mary Mogollon de Pilonieta (Hernando); her children, Lisa (Ray Cox), Kurt (Darlene), Verna (Jimmy Howell), Pamela (Tom Burke), Beatrice (Sid Jones), and Steve (Elizabeth). Also surviving are her beloved grandchildren, Maria Gardner Cox; Paige Gardner and Brian Gardner; J.R. Howell (Rebecca), Leigh Gardner Howell and Mary Anna Howell; Gabriela and Briana Gardner-Burke; Jeremiah M. Jones (Jamie); Theo and Kyle Gardner; and great-grandchild Benjamin Orozco. Mrs. Gardner was preceded in death by her husband, her sister Judith Bernal (Egidio), and grandchildren John Gardner-Burke and Miranda Jones. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 26 at St. Andrew Church in Clemson. Interment will be at a later date in Garden City, S.C. In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Andrew Catholic Church building fund (Clemson) or favored charity are encouraged. Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central, SC. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston

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Published by Charleston Post & Courier from May 22 to May 23, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Lilia Gardner

16 Entries

Carol Steele

May 26, 2018

I was sorry to learn of your mother's death. I was one of the people your mother trained for the CCD program at Men Riv. She was truly a great servant of God and her amazing life has left you with many great memories. God's blessings to all of your family in this time of grief.

Mauricio Bernal

May 26, 2018

Dear Verna,
We want you to know that we are really sorry to hear about your mother. Angela and I are honored and blesssed to have known her. Please accept our condolences.
Mauricio Bernal, Angela Torres and Nico Bernal

Enrique Bernal

May 26, 2018

Dear Verna,
I'm truly sorry to hear of the lost of mother. I have the best memories of my aunt.
I would like to offer you and your family our deepest and most sincere condolences.

Enrique Bernal and Soledad Bernal.

Enrique Bernal

May 26, 2018

Verna,
I'm truly sorry to hear of the lost of mother. I have the best memories of my aunt.
I would like to offer you and your family our deepest and most sincere condolences.

Enrique Bernal and Soledad Bernal.

May 25, 2018

My condolences to the family. May the peace of God and the fond memories you cherish comfort and sustain you in your time of need.
-RM

Kathy and Tom Schwedler

May 25, 2018

We were so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, Verna. Tom and I are out of town and wont able to attend the funeral, but our prayers are with your family.

May 25, 2018

May the God of all comfort strengthen the family during this time of deep sorrow. Those who pass on, God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. My sincerest condolences. (Psalms 116:15)

Maria Johnson

May 24, 2018

Dear ones, May Lee rest in peace with the angels in paradise. She was a wonderful woman and a great friend. Take comfort knowing she'll be in my prayers as will all of you.
Maria Johnson and family

Grace Creel

May 24, 2018

Dear Verna, I'm sorry to learn of your mother's death. I lived across the street from her and we were friends in Charleston. I regret that we lost touch with one another sometime after she moved up there. She was a dear lady and good friend.

Darlene Mahaffey

May 23, 2018

Verna: I am so sorry to learn of the loss of your dear mom. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family during this sad time.

Adrienne Gillen

May 22, 2018

Verna,
We are very sorry you have lost your sweet, strong and amazing mother. The loss of a mother leaves a void in life on earth. You grieve for your mother in love and pride. Her life story is awesome. Her presence in church was always endearing. Your were blessed to minister to her, along with your family members, in her last years. Your memories keep your mother with you. May time heal you and may Lee's story endure.
With Love, Adrienne and Bill Gillen

ethel Pettigrew

May 22, 2018

Verna: I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Shannon Staten

May 22, 2018

What a beautiful story of her life. Verna, my prayers are with you and your family as you both grieve and celebrate your mother's life on earth. I have heard you talk of her many times and know that the love you had for her and your family is a legacy of her love for you and yours. Take care my friend.

Mark Charney

May 22, 2018

Dear Verna, I'm so sorry to her of your mother's passing. Having lost both parents, I understand the feeling of loss, and I'm empathetic to the days ahead. Know that you are loved, that we very much are thinking of you, and that your mother obviously was a wonderful woman to bring you into the world. Our entire family is thinking you and sending you strength for the days ahead.

Betty Dean

May 21, 2018

Dear Verna,
I am so sorry to read about the death of your mother. I am glad that I got to meet her at The Downs, and I am so impressed to read her obituary and learn about all that she did to train teachers and, ultimately, students about Catholicism. What spunk and determination she must have had to come to the US from Colombia and accomplish so much! Thinking about you during this time. It's so hard to lose one's mother! Praying for you and your family as you go through this difficult loss in your lives.
Betty Dean

Debbie Davis

May 21, 2018

Verna, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this sad time. So sorry about the loss of your beautiful sweet mama!!!!!

Jack and Debbie Davis

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