Elizabeth June (Colman) Hardy, 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday November 9, 2024, at her home in Bow, NH. She entered the world on February 19, 1940, the eldest of five children born to the late Maurice and Helen (Robie) Colman of Chester NH. Elizabeth attended Chester schools, Hood school in Derry and graduated from Pinkerton Academy in 1958. Along with her family, Elizabeth was active in the Chester Baptist Church. She was in the USDA 4-H Club and was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls -a Masonic YSO. She began working at a young age cleaning local homes and babysitting. Music was a joy of hers, she sang in choirs, played the piano and later played in the English Pilgrim Handbell Choir for over 25 years.
Elizabeth graduated Houle’s Beauty Academy in Manchester, NH and worked as a hairdresser at the Riviera Beauty Salon. Elizabeth would bring to work her leash and litter trained, hand- raised pet raccoon “Bandit”.
Elizabeth met her beloved Rodney Lewis Hardy Jr. at Hampton Beach, NH and they married on August 17, 1962. They moved to Bow, NH and became members of the First Congregational Church in Concord.
Elizabeth (Libie) was proud of her 50-year career as a beautician/ cosmetologist at NH Hospital. She had the sweetest heart and most generous spirit- helping and caring for both the patients and staff. She was a nurturer to the less fortunate and vulnerable in the community- feeding and clothing the homeless, attending births of single mothers and helping them get settled. She was humble when accepting the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill “Hero” award for her exceptional service in compassion. She reluctantly retired in 2008.
Elizabeth’s other passion was her love for God’s creatures! She rescued and fostered many types of critters throughout her lifetime. Feeding over 40 feral cats at once, bringing pans of hot milk and food to them daily during frigid winters, then helping to capture each one when spring arrived and paying for the neutering and spaying of all, and finding them homes. One example of many!
Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Robin Lorraine Hardy-Groce of Auburn NH and her son, Michael Rodney Hardy of Franklin NH., Three grandsons, Jesse Churchill Groce of Whittier, California, Erik Michael Hardy and Evan Mitchell Hardy of Franklin NH, a sister, Deborah Jane Groce of Londonderry, NH, two brothers, John Thomas Colman of Chester NH and Stephen Waldo Colman of Bow NH, as well as nieces, nephews and other extended family. She was predeceased by her husband Rodney Lewis Hardy Jr., and her sister Nancy Comfort Glover of Kennebunk Maine.
There are no calling hours. Funeral services will be held Thursday November 14, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Chester Congregational Church on Chester St, Chester NH, Private burial to follow directly after at the Great Hill Cemetery, Route 121A, Chester NH. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Humane Farming Association https://www.hfa.org/ and the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee https:// www.elephants.com/