Mary Antoinette Hardy

Mary Antoinette (Meulemans) Hardy

Mary Antoinette (Meulemans) Hardy, longtime Everett resident, died Wednesday afternoon following a lengthy illness. Mary was born October 5, 1920 in Dickinson, North Dakota the only daughter of George and Anna Meulemans and the younger sister of Cornelius (Connie).
Mary attended Dickinson State Teacher's College and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Education at the age of 20. While in college she was also a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen. After graduation, she taught school for three years in the one and two room schoolhouses of rural North Dakota before moving to Seattle, WA. She was listed in Who's Who of 1942.
Mary's father died when she was in her early twenties, and she and her mother moved from North Dakota to Seattle following her brother who was working at Boeing. Mary also became employed by Boeing as an on-site bicycle courier. During her time in Seattle, she became engaged to Maurice Eugene Hardy (1918-1981), and they were married at Blessed Sacrament Church in Seattle on February 12, 1945. Mary and Maury had five children while living in Seattle then moved to Everett in 1956 where two more children were born. They were members of Immaculate Conception Parish, and all seven of their children attended and graduated from the Parish school and then Everett High School.
Mary's life in Everett was marked by service to her family, church, and community. She was a member of Court St. Rita of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the Archdiocesan Council for Catholic Women, serving as President multiple times for both organizations. She was on the Parish Council, the Parish Advisory Board, Altar Society, and Parent's Association at Immaculate Conception. She was a group leader for Junior CDA and received the St. Anne Award from the Archdiocese of Seattle in recognition of her leadership and inspiration. Mary was a member of the church Choir, and a frequent pianist and organist at Mass. She was an active participant in the Knights of Columbus even after the death of her husband. She regularly attended the KC Steak Fry, and played piano for all their Christmas parties until a few years ago. While Maury was alive, she supported the Lion's Club and the Elk's Club in their ladies groups, also participating as guest pianist for the annual Elk's Club Christmas Party. She was a member of the Marine Corps League Auxiliary and the Young Ladies Institute. Mary served proudly, at the request of Archbishop Murphy, on the Archdiocesan Women's Council for two years.
Mary was a gifted musician. She began playing piano at the age of eight, and by the age of twelve she was accomplished enough and had a wide enough repertoire to present a solo recital. She could play any song in any key by ear. Her knowledge and memory of the popular music of her youth was nearly encyclopedic, and her children would marvel at how any spoken phrase could prompt her to the song containing its lyrics.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Cornelius and Theodore (died in infancy); and her husband, Maury.
She is survived by her seven children, Maureen (Noel) Schmidt, Margaret (William) Babb, Sheila, Eugene, Mary Ellen, Jennifer (William) Rinehart, and Patrice; grandchildren, Timothy (Mindy), Matthew, and Sheila Babb, Anna, Emily, Joseph (Shannon), Daniel, Mary Schmidt, and Polly Rinehart; six great-grandchildren, Isabella, Gracen, Finnegan, and Delaney Babb, Isaac and Gracie Margaret Schmidt.
Mary's passing will be mourned, and her life celebrated at a funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m., January 22, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Church. A reception will be held immediately following Mass at Mattie Hall, Immaculate Conception Parish. The recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m., January 21, 2011 at Purdy & Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home, with viewing beginning at 4:00 pm.
Remembrances may be made to the Puget Sound Kidney Center.