Monica Rose (Turner) Gardella, 80, died August 6, 2014 of multiple myeloma. She was the wife of Philip Anthony Gardella, Sr. for 57 years.
She was born on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934 at the family home, 10 Dexter Street, in the Acre Section of Haverhill , the daughter of the late Charles F. and Rose (Cuneo) Turner.
A life-long resident of Haverhill, she graduated from Saint James High School, class of 1951.
During her senior year and for several years after, she worked in the office of Hoyt and Worthen Tannery in Bradford. For five years before marriage she was employed as a secretary at Western Electric Company, Locust Street , Haverhill. After raising her family she was employed by the Business-Education Collaborative of the Lawrence School System as an Administrative Assistant. At age 69, she was recruited as an office assistant by Dr. Sally Hood, Milk Street , Methuen.
As an active, life- long parishioner of Saint James Parish, Haverhill, she was the first female Eucharistic Minister, a lector, a religious education teacher, a member of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Open Hand Pantry , Our Lady of the Rosary Sodality and a volunteer office worker under Pastor Frederick R. McGowan. Up until the time of her death she was a Eucharistic Adorer.
Besides her husband , she leaves five children Philip (Kathy);Mark (Lisa); Judith; Mary (Patrick)Gobbi; Daniel (Ann Marie) , eight grandchildren Sara (Soren) Johnson; Andrea and Patrick Gobbi; Jessica and Timothy R. Michitson; Katherine and John Gardella and Christine Gardella, and six great-grandchildren Nicolas and Alexander Sandoval; Luke Flagg; Declan and Charlotte Johnson and Jakob Michitson.
She also leaves brothers Charles (Evelyn); Raymond (Esther); Stephen (Gail) Turner; a sister Kathleen (Kurt) Seastrand , and was predeceased by sister Frances D. O’Neil. She also leaves sisters-in-law Janice Gilroy and Ellen Gardella. She also leaves beloved nieces, nephews, aunts and cousins.
There are no calling hours. All are invited to the Liturgy of Christian Burial on Friday morning August 8, 10:30 a.m. at Saint James Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Saint James Parish, 6 Cottage St. Haverhill.