Mildred "Mickey" Gabardi

Mildred “Mickey” Gabardi,94, of Minersville. On Sunday, January 23rd, at 1:26 PM, Mickey Gabardi left the troubles and ills of the world behind to journey to a better place where she is now with her husband Max, loving family members, and dear friends who preceded her. Mickey entered this world as Mildred Kordish. Her parents Joseph and Mary Kordish had immigrated from Poland in search of a better life. When Mickey was five years old her father Joseph was killed in a mining accident, leaving her widowed mother to fend for her and her four siblings. Mary Kordish, never remarried and worked tirelessly to provide for her five children. As an adult Mickey emulated her mother’s work ethic and commitment to family as a loving mother and wife who always wanted the best for her children. Mickey’s love for family extended to her grandchildren, great grandchildren, as well as her nieces and nephews. She especially enjoyed being able to dote on her grandchildren, joyfully spoiling them whenever the opportunity presented itself. And good luck to any adult in the room vying for her attention when these little apples of her eye were present. Mickey was a person who never shied from a task at hand, whether it was preparing family meals or helping her husband carry railroad ties to build a retaining wall. She put the work ethic she learned from her mother to use by helping with the war effort. Upon graduating from high school, she took a job at Fort Indian Town Gap where troops were returning home at the end of WWII. After doing her part for the war effort, she worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone. While working as an operator, Mickey was given the sole responsibility of handling all telephone calls made by then President Harry S. Truman who was in Pottsville on a whistle stop; an experience she cherished her entire life. Though Mickey thoroughly enjoyed her job, and the camaraderie she experienced at the “Bell,” she departed for a higher calling; to be a full-time stay-at-home mom for her two sons Max and Marc. After raising her two sons, Mickey returned to the workforce as a teacher's aide for the Minersville Area School District, a job she loved, and from where she would retire. As a teacher’s aide she came to be known affectionately as Mom Gabardi to students and Mrs, G to faculty. During her life, Mickey was a person who was always willing to give a helping hand outside the home. She did this by volunteering to be a reading aid at Saint Stans Catholic School in Minersville. She was also a member of the Minersville Womans club, and a member of various auxiliary's which included the Pottsville Hospital, the Schuylkill County Symphony, and the Pottsville Club. Mickey was preceded in death by her husband Max L. Gabardi Sr,. her mother and father Mary and Joseph Kordish; sisters Louise Houser and Helen Onuskanich, and brothers John and Thomas Kordish. She is survived by her son Max Gabardi Jr and his wife Diana Chizmar-Gabardi; son Marc Gabardi; three Granddaughters, Tara Gabardi-Grochowski and husband Scott Grochowski and their children Cole and Kali; Emily Sanzone and her husband Mike Sanzone, and their son Tyler; Megan Marchette and her husband Raffaele and their children Chloe and Leia. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 am Saturday at St. Matthew the Evangelist Church of the Holy Family Parish, Minersville with Monsignor John Chizmar officiating. All are respectfully invited to attend a visitation Saturday with calling hours from 8:00 to 10:00 am at the Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville. Interment Mount Peace Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations made to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia https://give2.chop.edu/ or to Alzheimers Association https://act.alz.org. All current COVID-19 CDC guidelines should be followed. Mahal-Ritzel Funeral Home Inc., Minersville entrusted with the arrangements.

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