Lois Geary Hardy

Lois Geary Hardy, 85, of South Portland, has gone Home to be with her Savior and Lord on December 8, 2025. She was born on April 3, 1940 in Portland to Reverend Alger Wagner Geary and Phyllis Royle Geary. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York; Bangor, Maine; and was valedictorian of her graduating class at Morningside High School in Inglewood, California. Lois was married to John Cushman Hardy, Sr. for 56 years. They were blessed with four children whom they raised in Gorham, Maine. Until 1983, Lois chose to work part time in order to spend more time with her children. She got a job at McDonalds in Westbrook. The line was always longer in front of her cash register as people waited for her warm greeting. In 1983,

wanting to have a family business, she and John opened the La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery in South Portland. Twelve years later, they moved to the current location in Scarborough. Whether customers bought a chair or not, Lois was always open to listening and sharing an encouraging word. We called her the La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery "social worker".

She was an active member of South Gorham Baptist Church and for 38 years was the pianist and choir director. Music was her passion and she shared her talent freely with others playing the piano at high school graduations, sing-a-longs over the holidays with her family and during Covid, she would call others who were isolated and play songs for them over the phone. Most recently, she was an active member of Summit Community Church in Gorham where you would see her Sundays at the door being the official greeter with people waiting to say hello.

Lois was the best of listeners, never judgmental, always kind. She had a special connection with people…made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. She made the world better just by being in it. Lois was always fun loving and a bit of an "imp" at times.

She adored her eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and a special "Mimi". Lois was predeceased by her husband, John in 2013, and her daughter, Rebecca Hardy Philbrick in 2009. Surviving are her son, John C. Hardy, Jr. and wife Catherine of Standish; son Timothy E. Hardy and wife Pollyanna of Gorham; daughter Elizabeth A. Hardy of Portland; dear son-in-law Robert D. Philbrick and wife Diana of Falmouth; sister Lynn Geary Boyer and partner Elaine Seidel of San Mateo, California. Her grandchildren are Natasha Balzano, Jeffrey Greaves, Marissa Hardy Connolly, Timothy Hardy, Christopher Hardy, Jason Philbrick, Ian Philbrick, Kevin Philbrick and Maria Philbrick McCann,Taryn Coffin and Bryce Coffin. Her great-grandchildren are, Tyler, Ethan, Jace, Timothy John, Jack, James, Whittaker, Rory, Jane, Christian, Maddox, Parker, Lucy and Ryen. Nieces, Sarah Howard and Trena Soucy, and nephew, Peter Bunch.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Hospice of Southern Maine.

Visitation: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 4:00-6:00 PM

Celebration of Life Friday: December 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Summit Community Church

26 Cressey Rd.

Gorham, Maine