ROCKLAND — Beatrice E. Gardner, 88, a lifelong Rockland resident, died peacefully Feb. 10, 2013, at Windward Gardens in Camden. Born in Rockland July 16, 1924, she was the daughter of Damon and Ruth Spear Benner; and she was affectionately raised by Lucy and Raymond Bucklin. Educated locally, Bea graduated from Rockland High School. In earlier years, she worked at Perry's Market, and while there, met her future husband, Francis Gardner, who she married in Rockland Nov. 5, 1947.

The couple lived and raised their family in Rockland, and for many years lived on Crescent Street. In later years she was employed at W.T. Grants in Rockland and for several years thereafter worked at Knox Woolen Mill. She was an active member of the Rockland, Thomaston and Union Senior Citizens groups, and a communicant of St. Peters Episcopal Church in Rockland.

Family and friends were the center of Bea's life and she showed this in too many ways to name them all. Faithful to her friends, she spent time visiting those who were confined to nursing homes. Once, determined to help her family, she drove one of her daughters to the airport in the middle of a snow storm. Lastly, after her father's death, Bea cared for her mother full-time until her mother's passing. Into her later years, Bea was determined to live life to its fullest in order to be able to care for her family and friends and she did so by remaining active and independent into her final years.

Wanting to cherish her family and friends, everyone could always be assured that she would have a camera at gatherings. She then loved to make extra copies of the photographs and share them. Bea also loved to work in her yard, take care of her pets, socialize with friends and neighbors, decorate for the holidays and, most importantly, spend time with family.

Bea's friends described her as a most generous person, who would always lend a helping hand without expecting anything in return. Her daughters said she was a wonderful mother who was determined to do things her way but always welcomed their friends into their home as family. And that she will always be remembered for her lightheartedness, love for life, humor, wit, mischievousness, deep-belly laugh, and most of all, her love.

Predeceased by her husband on April 18, 1974, Beatrice is survived by three daughters, Marion Massey and her husband, Scott, of Bath, Lillian Gillespie and her husband, Lloyd, of Washington, and Field Weber and her husband, Larry, of Los Angeles, Calif.; four grandchildren, Tracy Powers and her husband, Stephen, David Massey, Uriah Gillespie and his wife, Jennifer, and Sheena Gillespie and her husband, Robert Linscott; as well as seven great-grandchildren, Jacob, Coleman and Grace Powers, Gavin and Gardner Gillespie, and Ethan and Nicholas Linscott.

A Celebration of Bea's life will be held Monday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland. A graveside service will be announced in the spring.

To share a memory or story with Bea's family, visit her on-line Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.