LINCOLNVILLE — Vera Elizabeth (Coradini) Gardiner, 60, passed away on March 5, 2017, at her home in Lincolnville, after a brave battle with cancer. Born in Memphis, Tenn., on Jan. 30, 1957, she was the daughter of Timeo Dominic and Van Dusen (Murrell) Coradini.

After graduation from Bishop Byrne High School in 1975, she met Ken Gardiner at Teen Challenge of Memphis, where they became the best of friends ultimately getting married May 6, 1978. Raising a family of two wonderful sons and a darling daughter, Vera was a loving "Mama" and "Grandmama" and has always been Ken's queen.

Vera loved American antiques and folk art, which led to a 25-year career as an antiques dealer, owning shops in Tennessee and Maine while doing shows from New England to Texas. On antiques buying and selling trips to New England, Vera and Ken fell in love with the coast of Maine and made the adventurous move to Maine from Tennessee in 2004.

Vera loved life, and her family was everything to her. Vera was a voracious reader, was strong willed and opinionated, and a woman of faith with deep beliefs. Also, she hated funeral services so there won't be one cause, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" She was a special lady and will be missed greatly.

Vera was predeceased by her parents, Timeo and Van Coradini; and a sister, Louise Curtis Coradini.

Surviving is her blessed husband of 38 years, Ken Gardiner of Lincolnville; her son, Matthew Gardiner and his wife, Kristin, of Covington, Tenn., and their children, Brooklyn and Lillian; and her son, Andy Gardiner of Portland, Maine; her daughter, Meg Gardiner of Camden; her brother, Tim Coradini and his wife, Becky, of Oakland, Tenn.; her sister, Lori Clements of Virginia Beach, Va.; her brother, Jeff Coradini and his wife, Bev, of Memphis, Tenn.; 23 nieces and nephews; many great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins; and her father- and mother-in-law, William and Martha Gardiner of Collierville, Tenn., and their extended family.

Vera's life will be privately celebrated by the family in the summer, but life and family should be celebrated every day!

If you choose to do so, memorial gifts may be made to the Oncology Patient Assistance Fund, c/o Waldo County Healthcare Inc., P.O. Box 287, Belfast, ME 04915; St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or to Teen Challenge NE-Augusta, 11 Hudson Lane, Winthrop, ME 04364.

Arrangements are with Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service.