Betty M. (Burns) Gardner died after a brief illness on February 5, 2016 near her home in Reading, MA. Betty was born in Burlington, Vermont on October 22, 1922. The daughter of Joseph L. and Louise M. (LaFreniere) Burns, she was predeceased by her sister Lois (Burns) Brown and brother, Joseph F Burns. She attended Cathedral High School and worked at the Burlington Free Press after graduation and in later years as a secretary at Missisquoi Valley Union High School. She was married to Mark R Gardner in 1948 until his death in 1972. She spent most of her life in Swanton Vermont and summered in West Swanton. Her sister M. Patricia Burns of Portland Maine; and her 4 children; Patrice Baker and her husband Ricky of Suffern, New York, Marka O’Connell and her husband Gerard of Reading Massachusetts, Jeffrey Gardner and his wife Adrianne of Carlsbad California and Jennifer Gardner of Reading Massachusetts, survive her. She leaves 10 grandchildren; Meagan (O’Connell) Fazio of West Hartford, Connecticut, Brendan O’Connell of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, Hannah (Baker) Volekas of Mahwah, New Jersey, Liam and Evan O’Connell and Samuel, Ethan and Sophie Hutchins all of Reading Massachusetts and Taylor and Alex Gardner of Carlsbad California and 7 great grandchildren; Liam and Lennox O’Connell, Molly and Joseph Volekas, Will Fazio and Naveen and Kavi O’Connell. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the loves of her life. Betty loved all things Vermont and always considered it home. A private memorial service will be held in April in North Hero Vermont and interment will be at the St. Mary’s Cemetery Swanton, Vermont. Contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to the MICU at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, c/o the Development Department, 585 Lebanon St., Melrose, MA 02176. To leave a condolence or share a memory, please click below.