Dr. Nancy Hardy (STH’19)
Dr. Nancy Hardy’s husband Rick writes, “Dr. Nancy C Hardy, (STH’19), friend, sister, aunt, teacher, mentor, spiritual director, scholar, my beloved wife of nearly 32 years and best friend for more than 40, slept peacefully away from this life and into the arms of her loving God on Tuesday morning, September 24.
She had entered the hospital on September 7 with pneumonia and a week later suffered a much more serious complication of the pneumonia or of the underlying lung condition we had discovered over the course of the summer. After a week in ICU with no progress and no likelihood of recovery, she moved toward end-of-life care.
She was kind, courageous, expressive, fully aware, and resolute all along the way: her life was not to be prolonged artificially without hope of improvement or recovery. Thus, last Tuesday morning, she was made comfortable; shortly afterwards, her journey in this life had ended.
I am broken-hearted but also grateful for the life we shared all these years, and especially for dignity and peace that accompanied her to the very end.
Our life together started in parish ministry and has never been far from that core. Not having had children, we determined to put our “parenting” energy into the parts of our ministry that we enjoyed the most. As a result, we are blessed with three communities of faith where we have history, friends, and a sense of family: Michigan, Arizona, and Southern California. The services for Nancy reflect this wonderful experience we’ve shared. Please plan to participate in one of these occasions, or keep her in mind at these times:
- Vigil and Wake Service: Monday, September 30, 7 pm. Church of Our Lady of the Angels at the Franciscan Renewal Center, Paradise Valley, Arizona. Music, scripture, and shared stories.
- Mass of Christian Burial (Funeral): Tuesday, October 1, 10:30 am, Church of Our Lady of the Angels at the Franciscan Renewal Center, Paradise Valley, Arizona. Light lunch follows the Mass.
- Memorial Mass: Monday, October 7, noon, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Lansing, Michigan, with lunch following. IHM is the parish where Nancy and I met, and where we ministered together for some 8 years prior to our marriage.
- Interment: Date and time TBD, early November, Cathedral Memorial Gardens, Christ Cathedral, Diocese of Orange, Garden Grove, California. Nancy was a diocesan director in Orange for some 8 years; I worked in several parishes in the diocese, primarily Our Lady of Fatima in San Clemente.
If you wish to make a donation in Nancy’s memory, I might suggest one of these options:
- The CTEPH foundation, which studies the underlying lung condition that Nancy was battling even before she was aware of it. The link is below.
- Donate blood, if you’re able. Nancy’s crisis required a significant amount of blood, which saved her life, even though for only several days.
- Support any constructive cause that is near to your heart. Nancy would never tell you where to put your energy or money, but will be honored if you remember her as you do whatever you do to make life better for others.”