Adeline Bento Hardy

After a long illness, Adeline (Bento) Hardy, age 97, a lifelong resident of Falmouth, passed away on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at her home, with her son Tim at her side.

Adeline ("Addie") was born on October 26, 1927, the eldest daughter of six children, four girls and two boys, of her predeceased parents Joseph T and Gilda G (Cabral) Bento of East Falmouth. Addie attended Falmouth schools and graduated in 1946 from Lawrence High School in Falmouth. She earned a business degree from Bryant College (now Bryant University) in 1950 and later earned a Master's degree in English and Social Studies from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and another Master's degree in Portuguese/Bilingual Education from Southeastern Massachusetts University. Addie taught both English and ESL courses for many years before retiring from the Falmouth public school system in the late 1980's. Additionally, she established a private accounting/income tax practice in Falmouth, which she operated for more than sixty years.

Addie married Richard ("Dick") Hardy (predeceased in 2010) in 1952, and is survived by her two sons, Ricky of Tewksbury, MA, and Timothy of Sterling, MA.

Addie loved growing flowers and always cultivated a bountiful vegetable garden each summer. A multilingual, intrepid, and curious solo traveler, she widely toured Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for decades. With her husband Dick, she also visited Australia, Israel, and Ireland. Addie enjoyed the back roads and scenic vistas of northern New England, and the couple owned a log cabin on a woodlot in central western Vermont.

Addie will be deeply missed by her children and the many friends she made in the business, teaching, and extended Portuguese communities.

A visitation will be held at Chapman Funerals and Cremations, 475 Main Street, Falmouth, MA on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 4pm to 7pm. A Mass will be held Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at St. Anthony's Church, 167 E. Falmouth, East Falmouth, MA with burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, 407 Gifford Street, Falmouth, MA.