Rena M. (Dukeshire) Pardekas, 83, wife of Christos “Coach” Pardekas of Agawam Village, Ipswich, died Sunday March 23, 2008 in the Lahey Clinic, Burlington, following her long illness.
Born in Ipswich, July 17, 1924, daughter of the late Merrill and Marion (Holland) Dukeshire, she was raised in Ipswich where she attended public schools. As a young woman she was employed for several years at the former Haywood Hosiery in Ipswich. She later married the late Alec Joseph Gauthier who died of rheumatic fever while serving in the Coast Guard during WWII. She married Christos “Coach” Pardekas in 1955. They lived on North Main Street while they built their home at 196 Linebrook Road, where they would live until moving to Agawam Village in 1999.
Rena enjoyed arts and crafts and was accomplished in the art of ceramics. She also enjoyed painting in water and oil and her annual auto trips with her husband to Nova Scotia and P.E.I. She was a regular participant in Old Ipswich Days and the Pine Grove School Crafts Fair in Rowley. For many years she owned and operated Linebrook Ceramics in Ipswich and later the Greystone Arts Studio of Rowley. She will be fondly remembered for the ceramic cups she made commemorating the Ipswich and Rowley Centennials.
She served as president of Ipswich Art Association during the 1970’s and was a longtime member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Ipswich.
In addition to her husband of fifty-three years she is survived by six grandchildren; twelve great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. She was the mother of the late David A. Gauthier, formerly of Pennsylvania and sister of the late Viola Stelline, formerly of Wenham.
Her funeral service will be held Friday 11 am in the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High St., Ipswich, followed by interment in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hour are Thursday 4 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions in her name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
