Margaret Maria Hardy

1933 - 2023

Margaret Maria Hardy

Concord, NH - Margaret Maria Hardy, 89, died September 6, 2023 after a short period of declining health. Marge was born in Suffern New York on December 18, 1933 to Frank Tortorano and Maria (Minnie) Tortorano (Grando) and grew up in Spring Valley NY. A first generation Italian, she was proud of her Italian roots. Marge was the youngest of six children, so was called "Babe" by her family.

She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1951 and went to work as a bank teller. One night, while attending a dance upstate at West Point Military Academy, she met a handsome young drill instructor, who eventually proposed on top of the Empire State Building. They were married and she moved with him to NH, where they started their family.

With her organizational skills and proficiency with numbers, Marge made an excellent bookkeeper. She spent the last 40 years at Pen & Inc. greeting card company in Bow, where she kept the books and ran the office. She enjoyed her work and her relationship with the owners, which was part of the reason she never actually retired, but continued to drive to work every day until her health started to decline earlier this year.

Marge was a loving mother and grandmother, known for putting everyone else's needs before her own. She also loved animals and had a series of cats and dogs over the years. She particularly liked orange tabbies, and had several, all named "Pumpkin." She was especially attached to their last dog, a yellow lab named "Duke."

Despite living in NH for over 60 years, she remained a city girl, refusing for years to wear boots in the winter, and she never went anywhere without her lipstick.

She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Robert (Bob) Hardy and all of her siblings. She is survived by her children, Veronica Hardy (spouse Pete Foley) of Henniker, Mark Hardy (spouse Diane Hardy) of Nottingham and Keith Hardy (spouse Tammy Hardy) of N. Myrtle Beach, SC. She leaves granddaughters Margaret (Meg) Johnston of Henniker, Ashley Hardy of Concord, and Caitlin Joyce of North Carolina. She also leaves a grandson, Matthew Hardy (spouse Kacey Hardy) of Arizona and a great grandson, Noah, of Arizona. She also leaves her brother- and sister-in-law, Joe and Gemma Hardy, of Barrington, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Interment at the NH State Veteran's Cemetery in Boscawen will be held on October 6, 2023 at 10 AM followed by a celebration of her life.