Obituary of
Gardner, Helen Ann Horowitz
Helen Ann Horowitz Gardner, 55, born July 17, 1959 and passed away on August 20, 2014 after a determined and courageous battle with ovarian cancer.
Born and raised in Dallas, TX, she graduated from Hillcrest High School and Emory University with a degree in accounting. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she was an accomplished CPA and Entrepreneur, and she later lived her dream of owning a prestigious art gallery and being an independent art consultant. Her strength, courage, extreme will to live and love of life -- and, most of all, her love of family -- carried her through 5 ½ years of treatments and clinical trials. Throughout her struggle she reached out to others affected by this disease and co-founded the ‘Be the Difference Foundation’ in an attempt to help women in the fight and find an early screening test so that others would not have to endure this horrendous disease. Known for her quick wit, her sense of style, her love of art and her stimulating conversation, Helen touched countless lives. She was brilliant yet humble, direct yet non-judging, and she will never ever be forgotten by those who were blessed to have had her in their lives. Despite her own battle, she never wanted sympathy and was always more concerned about the lives and struggles of others than her own. After her diagnosis, she was determined to live every day to the fullest. She attended family functions, celebrated milestones, traveled the world, hiked mountains with friends and family, and never complained about her pain and exhaustion. She seized every single day and taught her loved ones to do the same. The world has lost the ultimate fighter, and to those of us who were blessed to know her she will always remain an inspiration.
Above all she loved her family, and she leaves behind her loving husband, Gary Gardner; her parents, Ronnie and Nancy Horowitz; her parents-in-law, Marvin and Shirley Gardner; her cherished children, Brent & Lacey Gardner and Karis Gardner; her adored grandchildren, Cole Boisvert, and Levi and Sloan Gardner; her sister Lynn & Jeff Magid; her brother, Larry Horowitz; her sisters - and brothers-in-law, Paul & Cheryl Gardner, Janelle & Larry Friedman, Robert & Frannie Gardner, and Vicky & Joel Sokolik; her numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and God-children; and countless friends and cancer survivors.
A funeral will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the Olan Sanctuary at Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Road, Dallas, TX 75225.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to ‘Be the Difference Foundation’ at bethedifference.org or the charity of your choice.
Helen, we will cherish and remember you always. dayenu.
Please send the family condolences on this site.
Tribute Wall of Gardner, Helen Ann Horowitz
From the schimmel family, we are so sorry for your loss.
richard schimmel
Thursday October 13, 2022
From the schimmel family, we are so sorry for your loss.
Heartbroken to hear of Helen’s passing! I met Helen during my freshman year at UGA and just adored her positive spirit and friendship. We pledged Sigma Delta Tau sorority together and shared the fun that freshman year brings. What a great gal!! She will forever be in our hearts!!
Lori lewis
Thursday October 13, 2022
Heartbroken to hear of Helen's passing! I met Helen during my freshman year at UGA and just adored her positive spirit and friendship. We pledged Sigma Delta Tau sorority together and shared the fun that freshman year brings. What a great gal!! She will forever be in our hearts!!
I am so sorry for your loss of a beautiful, courageous woman. I will forever be in awe of Helen’s strength. Sending love and prayers to all of you.
Athena Vangrowski
Thursday October 13, 2022
I am so sorry for your loss of a beautiful, courageous woman. I will forever be in awe of Helen's strength. Sending love and prayers to all of you.
No words can comfort you at this time, however know that you are in our prayers and thoughts. Helen was my college roommate, our maid of honor and a true angel hear on earth. She carried G-d’s message of loving our fellow man, extending a hand to those in need and achieving all the goals she set out to reach. Once in a while there comes a person in our lives that gets everything right and then Hashem takes them to be closer to him. Helen was one in a million, she was that person, she got it right. Although we are heartbroken at Her passing, as always we will carry Helen in our hearts everyday. May G-D bless you Gardner/Horowitz families and carry you through this time of sorrow. May G-D take care of you Helen as you spread your wings.
Rosalie and Mark Wolfe
Thursday October 13, 2022
No words can comfort you at this time, however know that you are in our prayers and thoughts. Helen was my college roommate, our maid of honor and a true angel hear on earth. She carried G-d's message of loving our fellow man, extending a hand to those in need and achieving all the goals she set out to reach. Once in a while there comes a person in our lives that gets everything right and then Hashem takes them to be closer to him. Helen was one in a million, she was that person, she got it right. Although we are heartbroken at Her passing, as always we will carry Helen in our hearts everyday. May G-D bless you Gardner/Horowitz families and carry you through this time of sorrow. May G-D take care of you Helen as you spread your wings.
Barry and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the entire family. This is a very difficult time in ones life. Our prayers are with all of you. Rest in Peace Helen
Charlotte Barry Aebig
Thursday October 13, 2022
Barry and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the entire family. This is a very difficult time in ones life. Our prayers are with all of you. Rest in Peace Helen
We used to carpool together as kids going to school. My prayers to you and yours.
Irwin Arnstein
Thursday October 13, 2022
We used to carpool together as kids going to school. My prayers to you and yours.
May the angels come to greet her.
Chris Lyon
Thursday October 13, 2022
May the angels come to greet her.
I can’t imagine the sadness you must be feeling from your loss. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are in my thoughts, and I will pray for your families healing. God Bless Kathie Warford
Kathie Warford
Thursday October 13, 2022
I can't imagine the sadness you must be feeling from your loss. Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, just know that you are in my thoughts, and I will pray for your families healing. God Bless Kathie Warford
Helen’s spirit, smile and wonderful Texas accent will always be with me, as I know it will be with you. She leaves a meaningful legacy for us all.
Deborah Jones Hurd
Thursday October 13, 2022
Helen's spirit, smile and wonderful Texas accent will always be with me, as I know it will be with you. She leaves a meaningful legacy for us all.
FYI☆ I remember telling my good friend GARY about a truly fine spirited girl whom rode HORSES and left the earth with them in great heights(jumping). She soared with acceptance! All it took was that initial intro and AMORE fell respectively into each of their loving arms, for LIFE ♡♡♡
THE FUTURE OF THE SPECIES RELIES UNABATED with BRAVERY as such an individual of HELENS flock.
memories oF jOy GARY~~°~~
Billy Cohen
Thursday October 13, 2022
FYI☆ I remember telling my good friend GARY about a truly fine spirited girl whom rode HORSES and left the earth with them in great heights(jumping). She soared with acceptance! All it took was that initial intro and AMORE fell respectively into each of their loving arms, for LIFE ♡♡♡
THE FUTURE OF THE SPECIES RELIES UNABATED with BRAVERY as such an individual of HELENS flock.
memories oF jOy GARY~~°~~
To Helen’s family,
As you most likely remember, Helen and I were roomies at UGA our freshman year living at Brumby Hall. Additionally we were sisters at SDT and sweethearts at AEPi. We created great memories those two years at UGA. Although we have only had intermittent contact over the past few decades, those years stand out among the best times of my life and Helen was a major reason for that.
I would like to add that she had quite an impact on me in other ways. I always marveled her strength and confidence. Through her I grew to be tougher, stronger, and more self-assured. Just watching how she carried herself inspired me to step it up.
Everyone crosses our path for a reason and some make a stronger impact than others. I will always regard Helen as one that did just that. I carry a piece of her with me today and forever.
My warmest thoughts,
Risa Berlin (Ziman)
Risa Berlin Ziman
Thursday October 13, 2022
To Helen's family,
As you most likely remember, Helen and I were roomies at UGA our freshman year living at Brumby Hall. Additionally we were sisters at SDT and sweethearts at AEPi. We created great memories those two years at UGA. Although we have only had intermittent contact over the past few decades, those years stand out among the best times of my life and Helen was a major reason for that.
I would like to add that she had quite an impact on me in other ways. I always marveled her strength and confidence. Through her I grew to be tougher, stronger, and more self-assured. Just watching how she carried herself inspired me to step it up.
Everyone crosses our path for a reason and some make a stronger impact than others. I will always regard Helen as one that did just that. I carry a piece of her with me today and forever.
My warmest thoughts,
Risa Berlin (Ziman)
Gary, Brent, Lacey and Karis,
I am so very sorry for this unbelievable loss and pray for the joy of Helen to bubble thru the pain.
Dori Nanry
Thursday October 13, 2022
Gary, Brent, Lacey and Karis,
I am so very sorry for this unbelievable loss and pray for the joy of Helen to bubble thru the pain.
Deepest sympathy to Helen’s entire family. I was a close friend of Helen’s at UGA and we had many great times together during college. We rekindled our friendship years later when I moved to Dallas. I will remember her smile, her laugh and her love of having fun! She fought a long, hard battle to stay alive for her family. From all her “BULLDAWG” college friends, rest in peace, dear friend! Michael Brown
Michael Brown
Thursday October 13, 2022
Deepest sympathy to Helen's entire family. I was a close friend of Helen's at UGA and we had many great times together during college. We rekindled our friendship years later when I moved to Dallas. I will remember her smile, her laugh and her love of having fun! She fought a long, hard battle to stay alive for her family. From all her "BULLDAWG" college friends, rest in peace, dear friend! Michael Brown