Jean Hendricks Gardeski, 86, of Closter, N.J.
CLOSTER, N.J. » Jean Hendricks Gardeski, 86 years young, passed away on May 6, 2018, surrounded by her loving family.
A resident of Closter, N.J., since 1960, Jean is survived by her husband of 65 years, Joseph Gardeski Jr.; son Joseph III and Donna Gardeski, children Joseph Gardeski IV, Tim, Brian and Jade O’Malley and granddaughter Evie O’Malley; daughters Gail and Tim O’Neill, children Ryan Mott, Alli and Jenni O’Neill; Lisa Booth and Brian Booth, children Kyle and Kelly Booth and grandson Christopher Cuomo; Carolyn and Patrick MacPherson, children Katie, James, and Alex MacPherson; Christina Gardeski and Paul Mores, children P.J. and Nate Mores; and siblings Donald Hendricks (deceased) and Gail Mottola, Wendy Crispell, and Allen Hendricks. She also leaves behind many special nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Jean was the beloved Gardeski family matriarch known as “Nana”. She was fiercely dedicated to her children and grandchildren, and especially to her Kingston High School sweetheart, Joe. A Nurse Educator, Jean was committed to the education of generations of nurses and taught at many local colleges such as Felician College, Farleigh Dickinson, William Paterson, and Bergen Community College. Her standards were high for her students, and even higher for her children and grandchildren! Over the years it was not unusual to meet someone who had been her student or who shared a story of mom helping them through childbirth or the care of their newborn baby.
Jean’s capacity to give and to love knew no bounds. She leaves behind strong-minded and highly principled individuals who are very grateful and fortunate to have had her as a role model and more importantly to have been recipients of her unconditional love. They will continue her legacy.
As family past and present was the center of her life, she was an avid genealogist and member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Wiltwyck Chapter, Kingston, N.Y.
Jean was a parishioner of St. Mary RC Church in Closter and was a woman of great faith. God saw she was tired and called her home to heaven. While we will miss her terribly here on earth, its likely God needed her more, perhaps to tend to broken wings or to guide some wayward angels.
Rest in peace Nana. We will love you and miss you every day for the rest of our lives.
Funeral services provided by Moritz Funeral Home, Closter, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jean’s memory to: The Trustees of Columbia University Dr. Joseph Jurcic Leukemia Research, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, Garden Level, New York, N.Y. 10032.