Elizabeth J. "Jeanie" Gardner

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, Elizabeth J. “Jeanie” Gardner passed away very unexpectedly at the age of 72. Jeanie was such a loving mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend and will be sorely missed by all. Jeanie was preceded in death by her father, Charles Ellsworth Conrades, her husband, Guy Martin Gardner, her brother, Charles Ellsworth Conrades Jr., and her mother, Clara “Lorraine” Conrades. Jeanie was born to Clara “Lorraine” and Charles Ellsworth Conrades on March 22, 1951, in Seattle, Washington along with her twin sister, Linda, before moving to Potomac, Maryland. She and the family then moved to Pasadena, Maryland in 1957 where she was raised along with her sister, Linda, and brother, Charlie. In 1969, Jeanie graduated from Severna Park High School and eventually moved to Baltimore Highlands with her loving husband, Guy. Following that they moved to Brooklyn with their daughter, Sabrina, and finally back to Pasadena, Maryland where they lived the rest of their lives.

Jeanie is survived by her daughter, Sabrina Shupe and her husband, Chris, and their children, Devin and Dylan, as well as her sister, Linda Ochs and her husband, Carl, and their children, Carl John (CJ), Sheryl, and Katie, and many extended family members.

Jeanie started her career at Montgomery Ward in Glen Burnie, Maryland, before moving into the optical field and working in the lab at B&W Optical. While working at B&W, she learned a lot about eyeglass lenses and eventually became a certified optician while working for Walmart Vision Center. After working 19 years for Walmart, she moved onto the Dollar Tree where she worked in retail helping customers and enjoying chats with those customers who often became friends. Afterall, Jeanie’s personality was one that anyone would love.

Jeanie loved gambling. She would travel to casinos in the DMV area with her husband, sister, brother-in-law, and often a few other family members to chase the thrill of winning at the slot machine. She also enjoyed playing Bingo, Lotto, and scratch offs in hopes of “winning big”, but usually won just enough to keep playing. Jeanie enjoyed bowling, so she and her husband, Guy, were on bowling leagues for many years. She wasn’t too bad at it, but she enjoyed spending time with their friends the most. Another thing Jeanie loved was jewelry. Her fingers full of gems, her neck decorated with silver or gold, and ears sparkling with diamonds or any other type of gem that looked pretty. Last, but certainly not least, Jeanie enjoyed going out to lunch and dinner with her family and friends as much as possible. She loved food, but she loved the laughs even more. 

Although Jeanie had her share of health issues in her final years, she was full of life and eager to feel better so she could get back to “normal” and enjoy living life to the fullest. Now that she’s passed, we have comfort in knowing she will be alongside the love of her life and husband, Guy, her loving parents, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. We love you, Jeanie, and you will be missed, but we pray that you rest in peace.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the family owned and operated McCully Polyniak & Collins Funeral Home, P. A. 3204 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD 21122 on Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm, where funeral services will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 11:30 am. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery Crownsville, 1122 Sunrise Beach Road, Crownsville, MD 21032 at 1 pm. Following the Interment, a Celebration of Life will take place at St Andrew's Episcopal Church, in the downstairs hall (handicap accessible), located at 7859 Tick Neck Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122 at approximately 2 pm.