Maude Menta Gardner Sheldon's Obituary
Maude Sheldon Obituary
Maude Menta Gardner Sheldon died January 30, 2022 from the infirmities of age. She was two months shy of being 105 years old. Maude was born March 22, 1917 in London, England, the first child of her American Father, Maurice Frank Gardner and her English Mother, Maud Catherine Breach. She was the eldest of ten children born into this branch of the Gardner family. When her father was recalled to America in 1923, Maude and her four brothers spent three years in the Lambeth School for Orphans. Maude, her mother, and brothers immigrated to America on board the R.M.S. Majestic (sister ship of the Titanic) with the White Star Line in 1926. She attended public schools in Elyria, Ohio where the family settled at 600 Foster Ave. Maude married her devoted husband, Harold Clement Sheldon; they borrowed a Ford Model A and eloped to Ripley, New York on September 5, 1936. They were married for 67 years until Harold's death in 2003. She enjoyed anything British, collecting antiques, gardening, traveling, working around her dream home (a century old farm house at 9983 West Ridge Road which she and Harold renovated in 1967), and spending time with her family. In 2012, during Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, Maude returned to the land of her birth for a nine day visit. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her sister Jane Gardner Lisicky, and six of her brothers: Maurice, Thomas, John, Galen, James, and William. She is survived by two brothers, Sidney and Ronald Gardner, and her four children, Linda L. Wilbert, Deborah M. Sheldon, Daniel H. Sheldon, and Dianne R. Westfall. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Maude had a “spit-fire” personality. Although challenging at times, she lived, laughed, and loved all through her long, well lived life. A Celebration of Maude’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., on her 105th birthday, March 22, 2022 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 300 Third Street, Elyria, Ohio. The Rev. June Hardy Dorsey and Maude’s grandson, the Rev. Dr. Brian K. Wilbert will be officiating. Maude’s family suggests that memorial contributions be made to: the Bella Care Hospice, 5000 Rockside Rd. #150, Independence, OH, 44131; the Animal Protective League of Lorain County, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035; Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Akron) breast cancer research, https://www.komen.org/community/ohio/northeast-ohio-cleveland-akron/; or a charity of one’s choice.Celebration of LifeSt. Andrew's Episcopal ChurchTuesday, March 22, 2022 11:00 AM 300 Third St.Elyria, OH 44035
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