Mary Kathleen Gardner

Mary Kathleen (Gallagher) Gardner, 82, of Erie, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 4, 1943 in Erie, a daughter of the late Morgan and Thelma (Nolan) Gallagher. 

Addressed as Kathleen (by her family), she was more commonly called Kathy by her friends. Kathy attended kindergarten at Maryvale, grade-school, high-school (Class of 1961), and college (Class of 1965) at Villa Maria. She earned her Masters in Education at what was then Edinboro College in 1970. Later, she was certified in Special Education at Mercyhurst University. She ended her education with over 60 credits beyond her Masters.

She taught for two years at Blessed Sacrament School while attending college on the Cadet Program. After graduation, she taught in the Erie School District at Harding, Burns, Edison and McKinley from which she retired in 2003. While her husband was in the military, she taught in Carson, VA, not far from Fort Lee. Later, when they moved to Baltimore, MD, she taught for two years in Baltimore County.

Kathleen and John were married at Saint Peter Cathedral on November 20, 1965. They recently celebrated their 60th year of marriage.

Kathleen loved to travel. After retirement, they visited Ireland first (of course), and then many other countries in Europe and in Asia. They also visited every state in the Union.

Kathleen loved to read. She also had an excellent, perhaps even remarkable memory. However, her greatest joy in recent years has been her grandchildren. She loved being with them, talking to them, and listening to them. They called her "Bockey". No one knows how it started, but we do know it was said with great affection.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Victor and Raymond Gallagher.

She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, John T. Gardner; one daughter, Kara Easly (Tim Welch); one son, Richard Gardner; son-in-law, Michael Easly; three sisters, Maureen Gallagher, Colleen Gallagher (Tom Eichler), and Eileen McCormick (J. Philip); sister-in-law, Audrey Gallagher; and five grandchildren, Emma, Katherine, and Allison Easly and Devi and Madelyn Gardner. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends are invited to call on Sunday at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and may attend a Funeral Mass on Monday at Saint Patrick Church, 130 East 4th Street, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be private in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Emmaus Ministries, www.emmauserie.org or to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest PA, 1507 Grimm Drive, Erie, PA 16501. Kathleen's family would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank You" to her hospice caregivers, Laura Tonn, Tracie Travis, and Stacie Bedow, for their exceptional care and support.