Obituary of Penny Lynn Gardin

Penny Lynn Gardin (nee Brophey)<br/>It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Penny Gardin, wife of 51 years to Gary Gardin. They married in the summer of ’69 and went on to have 4 children.<br/>Penny leaves behind Melanie Gardin (Terry Huhtala and his daughters Mila Huhtala and Seija Huhtala), Shari Gardin (Jim Kiritsis), Jesse Gardin and Barbi Gardin-Daykin (Thomas).<br/>Penny will be fondly remembered by her 5 grandchildren who were the loves of her life. Elina Huhtala who she called Peanut, Maggie and Cece Gardin who she called Magaloo and CeceButters and Tilly and Jake Gardin-Daykin who she called Tillyboo and Jakey Poo-Pie.<br/>Penny was the younger sister of Stan Brophey (Patricia) and was predeceased by her brother Thomas Brophey Jr. (Anne) and Sally Creed (Wendell). She was predeceased by her parents Thomas Brophey Sr. and Eleanor Brophey (nee Poisson). <br/>She was a loving aunt to the Brophey and Creed nieces and nephews: Karen, Brian, Barb, Kathy, Joanne, Sarah, James and predeceased by Terry. <br/>Penny had two very dear friends Linda Czilli and Pam Parisien who loved her to bits and she loved them. <br/>Penny was a lover of all animals, but dogs held an especially fond place in her heart. She will be forever missed by her cockapoo Lucy who won’t get nearly enough Cheetos now that her mumma is gone. Penny always had a treat for her fur grandboys: Merlin, Toby and Midas.<br/>Back in the day she was a hairdresser - a skill she never lost if you needed a cut or a perm back in the 80’s. She stayed home to raise her kids and she took her job as a mother very seriously. She decided that putting 4 kids through school was going to be expensive so she got a job at the University of Windsor in housekeeping for the free tuition. Cleaning toilets and mopping floors was never the career she envisioned but she was damn proud that all 4 of her kids got 2 university degrees (or more!).<br/>Penny was diagnosed with appendix cancer more than 9 years ago. She got lucky when she found a doctor/researcher in Dr. Andrea McCart who took her in as part of her research study and performed a life saving debulking operation with HIPEC chemo which gave her the time to see her grandkids grow and do a little travelling. <br/>Eventually, the cancer caught up with her and she knew that the end was coming. Super talented and creative, Penny was a master quilter. It’s fitting that her last projects were 32 exquisite crate quilts for the Windsor Essex County Humane Society and cloth masks for Windsor Regional Hospital. She finished these in her dying days. A giver right to the end.<br/>We are grateful to everyone who helped her on her cancer journey: Dr. Andrea McCart and team aqua at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Windsor Regional Hospital - especially Dr. Robert Woodall, Dr. Jessica Summerfield, Dr. Stephen Rukavina and his hospice team, VON nurses, Bayshore PSW’s, and finally Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare - Palliative Care for their wonderful care in the final days. <br/>Donations in Penny’s memory can be made to the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society or to a charity of your choice. A semi-pro local bingo legend, Penny would love it if you won the jackpot in her honour. She hated being a day late and a dollar short!<br/>Cremation has taken place. A Beatles themed memorial is being planned for the summer of 2021.<br/> <br/><br/><br/> <br/>