Patricia Mae Gardyko, 75, beloved wife and mother, died Friday morning, November 24, 2017 at her home with her husband and son at her bedside, following a courageous seven year battle with cancer.
Patricia was born in Marquette on April 20, 1942 to Jacob and Lucille (Sharkey) DelBello and was a graduate of Graveraet High School, Class of 1960. In her life she had worked for Negaunee Head Start, Hematite Industrial Supply, Tino’s, and Russo’s Supermarket and occasionally other part time jobs. Her favorite occupation was as a mother and housewife.
In 1966 Patricia married Thomas Gardyko and lived in Ishpeming and 49 years in Negaunee. Together they raised two sons. She was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, Negaunee, was a former member of the Ishpeming-Negaunee Lady Jaycees’, the Negaunee Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Negaunee High School All Sport Booster Club. An avid bowler, she bowled for many years on the Tuesday afternoon and Thursday night leagues at the Red Rock Lanes where she also served as a league officer. The day she had to stop bowling due to her illness was a day of great sorrow for her! Patricia enjoyed doing activities with her husband such as attending fire department events and going to the annual fire fighters conventions. She also enjoyed being with Tom at social activities for the Negaunee Knights of Columbus, especially the annual state convention on Mackinaw Island eleven times. She loved to travel and had visited Canada and eleven states going from Florida to Las Vegas and states in between. One of her travel highlights was a visit to Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion in Memphis. Being a big Red Wing and Tigers fan she enjoyed trips to Detroit to watch her favorite teams play. She enjoyed taking road trips to casinos in Wisconsin and Minnesota with friends. Her greatest pastime, though, was taking good care of her family and her home.
Patricia had many hobbies including ceramics and embroidery painting with her friends. She loved working in her flower garden, cooking and baking. During Christmas she would bake hundreds of cookies, breads and pies which were enjoyed by many. Collecting ornamental snowmen was a passion of hers that filled the house with Christmas spirit.
She always had a big smile for everyone and her big blue eyes greeted everyone to be a friend! She was a joy to her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, Edward and Loretta (Kiefer) Gardyko of Saginaw; daughter, Katrina Lynn Spear; three sisters and brothers-in-law: Joyce (Donald) O’Neill of Marquette, Lorraine (Reino) Kantola of Negaunee, and Carol (Richie) Hibler of Spring Town, Texas; and by special friends, Joan Kapeller of Sands Township and Janet Coppens of Marquette.
Surviving are her husband of 51 years, Tom; two sons, Jeffery Gardyko of Negaunee and Robert (Cheri) Spear of Republic; four grandchildren: Michele (Chris) Quellette of Hartland, Jennifer (Scott) Clark of Lansing, Jacob (Taylor) Spear of Republic and Matthew (Kim) Spear of Menominee; five great-grandchildren: Sheldon, Elora, Delaney and Anthony Clark of Lansing, and Hendrik Spear of Republic; numerous nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Michael (Lori) Gardyko of Traverse City; and special friends, Robert and Kathy Menard of Negaunee.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Wednesday, November 29th at St. Paul Catholic Church with Monsignor Peter Oberto officiating. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:00 am until the time of Mass at 11:00 am at the church on Wednesday, and also at a luncheon reception in the St. Paul Gymnasium immediately following services. Members of the Negaunee Fire Department will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Patricia’s memory to the St. Paul Catholic Church Endowment Fund or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Grossman, Dr. Sheetal Acharya, the staff of U.P. Home Health and Hospice, and Sharon Schrandt for their compassionate care and service.
“Patricia, you were the love of my life, my soulmate, my best friend, my Princess. I loved you when we met; I love you now and shall love you forever.” Until we meet again, your loving husband, Tom.

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