Our beloved mother, Pamela Susan Gardner, age 74, passed away peacefully January 8th, 2022. She was born December 21, 1947, at Saint Anne’s hospital in Chicago, Illinois to Henry and Dorothy Sokolski. She was the oldest daughter and grew up alongside her two younger twin siblings, Henry, and Gail. She was blessed with three beautiful girls, Priscilla, Victoria, and Elizabeth. Pam also treasured her two grandchildren, Lilly, and Alexis, who were her pride and joy.
Pam loved all animals and devoted much of her time to taking in and helping as many of God’s creatures as possible. She opened her home to countless strays that had nowhere to call home and at the time of her passing, she was mother to three fur babies: Tiger, Pumpkin and Magic. Our mom also had a great love for people. She spent time as a Eucharistic Minister visiting shut ins that were unable to make it to church and would pray with them, offer communion and minister to them. Pam had a beautiful sense of humor and a smile that was contagious. She had a love for food, football, game nights, good music and spending time with her family.
Mom had a deep compassion for others and a zest for life. In fact, at the age of fifty she went to nursing school. She had many passions and held many jobs in her lifetime. Most recently, she worked at Dunham's Sports where her personality and smile brightened the day of whomever she encountered.
Anyone who knew Pam felt she had the type of love we could retreat into, feel held by, move through our deepest fears with, and feel the courage within to stand tall and face the world head on. Pam is survived by her brother Henry Sokolski and his wife Cherie, her sister Gail Brown, her two daughters and their husbands Priscilla and Kevin Mullins, Victoria and Ron Dickerson, her youngest daughter Elizabeth and her two grandchildren, Alexis Mullins and Lilly Gardner.
A celebration of Pam’s life will be scheduled this Spring, her favorite time of the year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Protect Animals | Give a Gift - The Humane Society of the United States - The HSUS.
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