Mary E. Giardina

Mary (Burns) Giardina Mary E. Giardina of Denver passed away on February 14th, 2008. Mary Ellen Burns was born on April 27, 1929 to William (Bill) and Cora Burns of Sedgwick Colorado. Mary spent her childhood in Ovid Colorado and graduated from Ovid High School. She moved to Denver where she began working for the phone company. She met her husband Joseph J. Giardina while he was attending Denver University. Mary married Joseph on April 25th, 1953 at the Cathedral in Denver and they lived in the Bonnie Brae area near DU. After their 1st child Ralph was born, Mary and Joe moved to their home in the Harvey Park neighborhood where they had two more children, Linda and Koralee. Mary was a wonderful homemaker and mother, and volunteered extensively while her children were young. When her children were older, she returned to work for the Bureau of Land Management as a Payroll Administrator. After she retired from the BLM, she began working for the Jefferson County Election Commission and later for the Denver Election Commission. Mary enjoyed her friends and traveling, but most important to her was family. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, and they loved spending time with her. Mary became the adopted ""Mom"" of many, and because she loved unconditionally she was a great inspiration and positive force in the lives of the beloved friends and family she left behind. She will be greatly missed. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Giardina, her parents Bill and Cora Burns and her sister Lavonne (Dave) Mattingly. She is survived by her sister Betty (Jack) Holley, her brother-in-law Frank Giardina, her son Ralph Giardina, her daughter Linda (Dick) Jefferies, her daughter Koralee (Dennis) Donovan and her grandchildren Lindsay and Will Jefferies, and Kayla and Joseph Donovan and many nieces, nephews and cousins. We will celebrate her life at a Vigil on Feb 19th at 7:00 PM (Horan and McConaty - 3101 S. Wadsworth) and at a funeral Mass on Feb. 20th at 10:00 AM (Notre Dame Catholic Church - 2190 S. Sheridan Blvd. Interment will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association. Mary Giardina, 78, of Denver. Preceded in death by husband Joseph and Sister Lavonne Mattingly. Mother of Linda (Dick) Jefferies, Koralee (Dennis) Donovan & Ralph Giardina. Grandmother of Lindsay & Will Jefferies, Kayla & Joseph Donovan. Sister of Betty (Jack) Holley. Sister-in-law of Frank Giardina. Aunt of Patti Wiggam, Jeff & Mark Holley, Paul, Barbara, & Thomas Giardina, August & Gloria Russo. Vigil Service Tuesday, 7:00 PM, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth. Funeral Mass Wednesday, 10:00 AM, Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 S. Sheridan Blvd. Interment Fort Logan National Cemetery. Memorials to American Lung Association of Colorado, 5100 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Please share condolences at HoranCares.com.