Claudia M. (Bird) Gardner, 85, of Hopedale MA and formerly of Milford MA died Friday (November 22, 2024) at her residence after an illness. A graduate of St. Mary's Catholic High School in 1957, Claudia enjoyed a long career with Benjamin Moore Paint. She lived just down the road, at the same property between Milford Pond and Louisa Lake on which her mother and father first planted their roots in Milford. In that small, hand-built house on Dilla Street, Claudia raised four children – Michael, Jeannie, Cynthia and Jennifer – with her late husband, Bill Gardner. Later in life, she moved to Hopedale, settling into an in-law apartment built for her by Cynthia's spouse, Bill, and his father, Pap. There, she kept a fabulous garden, and from her screen porch held dominion over the screaming grandchildren in the yard. Nine of them – Billy, Jessie, Matt, Emily, Chris, Callen, Trevor, Olivia, Chloe – and by each she's remembered as the beach chaperone, the museum goer, the patron of perhaps-too-avante-garde, the fly-by-night berry picker, the getaway driver, the international sightseer, at one time a rapper, possibly secret agent. Always the life of the party, she could hold a fidget spinner there on her nose, spinning – no hands! – for longer than anyone else. Around a deck of cards, she became a different person. The later into the night, the louder she'd laugh. Sometimes right to bed she'd take herself, laughing. Those were the good days. But every day, bad included, she was the beating heart of an especially tight-knit and loving family. It's a credit she'd wave away, making it all more due. And then there's one grandchild who no longer needs to remember Gram. Claudia and Taylor are together now, after too long apart. Perhaps on their own small planet with a single rose, and Jenny's there too. Claudia loved her late daughter in the secret way only known by mothers, as much in life as after her death. She carried Jenny everywhere she went. She loved Cindy, Jeannie, Michael – would have carried them just the same. But it was Jenny who needed carrying, and so she did. To the end, Claudia remained independent, intellectually curious, an avid reader of literature and indulger of guilty-pleasure TV. She was quick of wit and faster to laugh, comfortable saying the uncomfortable necessary. She kept close friends and a busy schedule. Pattie, Ellie, Joanne and "the Bettys" will remember her as her brother, children, and grandchildren do – the woman who never forgot the time as a girl her brothers got to ride in the moving truck to Milford and she didn't. Who never accepted the stated reason for that, nor the unstated. Who never made herself smaller for no one, and in that way lived more fully than many could. Most of all she knew it was a matter of great consequence whether the sheep ate the flower. And she'd prefer this obituary not drag on much longer. Claudia is survived by her 3 children: Michael Gardner and his wife Barbara of Uxbridge MA, Cynthia, wife of Bill Shaner of Hopedale MA and Jean, wife of Christopher Scott of Mendon MA; her 9 grandchildren: William "Billy" Shaner, Emily Shaner, Jessie Scott and her husband Eric Divine, Christopher Scott, Olivia Scott, Matthew Gardner, Callen Gardner, Trevor Gardner and Chloe Gardner; her brother: David Bird and his wife Joanne of Milford MA; also several nieces & nephews. Claudia was the mother of the late Jennifer T. Gardner who died in 2017 and the grandmother of the late Taylor Gardner; the sister of the late Michael Bird and the late John Bird. She was predeceased by William J. Gardner in 2015. In accordance with her wishes cremation has taken place. Relatives & friends will be invited to extend their condolences to her family on SATURDAY (November 30th) from 10:00AM to 12 NOON at the Edwards Memorial Funeral Home. Burial of her cremains will immediately follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute @ Milford Regional Medical Center, c/o the Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation, 14 Prospect Street, Milford MA 01757.