Karlene Ann Giard

GROTON - Karlene Ann (Sanders) Giard, age 74, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Donald J. Giard who passed away in 1997.


Karlene was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin on November 26, 1940, a daughter of the late Myron and Lila (Bauman) Sanders. She was a resident of Groton since February of 2014 and was formerly of The Villages in Florida.


Earlier in her life, she attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and then went on to become a flight attendant with United Airlines for several years. Karlene and her husband lived in Bedford MA where she dedicated her life to raising her children. She loved nothing more than being with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.


She leaves her three children, Michelle Gendron and her boyfriend Steven Rennie of Groton, Donald Giard and his wife Tara of Swampscott, and Michael Giard and his girlfriend Karen Koerner of The Villages, Florida; a sister, Melissa Chisholm and her husband Craig of Prior Lake, Minnesota; a brother, Robert Sanders and his wife Virginia of Endicott, New York; three grandchildren, Grey Gendron and Lila and Leo Giard; her beloved Pomeranian, Jake; also several nieces, nephews, dear friends and caregivers of RiverCourt Residences in Groton. She was the sister of the late Patricia Brennan.


At her request, there will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 20th from 1pm until 5pm at Michelle and Steven's residence, 48 Forge Village Road in Groton. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Karlene's memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 460 Totten Pond Rd., #400, Waltham, MA 02451 or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01701. www.healyfuneralhome.com