Obituary of Beth Lloyd Gardiner
Beth Lloyd Gardiner, 92, of Mountainside, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at her home in Arbor Terrace Assisted Living on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
Beth was born on July 21, 1932, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where she grew up on a family farm. The values she learned on the farm—hard work, resilience, and a love for the outdoors—shaped her character and guided her throughout her life.
Beth earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, where she met the love of her life, John Gardiner, while he was pursuing his Ph.D. After graduating, both Beth and Brooke moved to New Jersey for their jobs. Beth began her career as a medical research analyst at a pharmaceutical company. She was a dedicated and hardworking professional, known for her meticulous attention to detail. Her family fondly remembers seeing the inoculated slides of the bubonic plague that Beth studied as part of her work.
In 1961, she moved to Mountainside, New Jersey, where she resided for the remainder of her life. After the birth of her two children, Beth decided to leave her professional career and devote herself entirely to raising her family—a role she cherished deeply. She was an active and hands-on mother, always finding creative ways to spend quality time with her children. From teaching them to swim in the pond, to swimming and catching crabs at beach, to ice skating and skiing, to cheering at her son’s baseball games, Beth brought the lessons and joys of her childhood to her family.
Beth had a lifelong love for singing and frequently sang at her local church. A fan of classical music from her older sister, she found peace and inspiration in the melodies that filled her home. However, her greatest passion was gardening. She spent countless hours tending to her plants and flowers in her home and garden, finding immense joy in the beauty of nature as her mother taught her.
Beth was predeceased by her beloved husband, John B. Gardiner, in 2023. She is survived by her two devoted children, Allen Gardiner and Blair Gardiner and his wife Regina; her four wonderful grandchildren, John Brooke, Kendra Beth, Alex, and Symone; and her older sister, Whitfield Schanzer. Beth’s love and legacy will forever live on in the hearts of her family and friends.
Cremation services will be held privately at the family’s request.
Beth will be remembered as a loving mother, a devoted wife, a loyal sister, and a woman of great character and kindness. Her family and friends will treasure the memories of her dedication, warmth, and love for life.
