Fran Hardy
Fran McGinnis Hardy, age 69, peacefully passed away January 27,
2023 after a long battle with dementia. She was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania January 19, 1954 and spent most of her early years in the Jamestown, Pennsylvania area. She was an avid Pittsburgh Pirates fan with Roberto Clemente being one of her favorite players. She graduated from Jamestown High School in 1971. She found it nearly impossible to get a job because she was only 17 and considered to be “too young”. In the summer of 1972 she was working as a ride operator in Kidde Land at Conneaut Lake Park in northwestern Pennsylvania where she met her future husband, Don Hardy. They were married August 23, 1975. Don’s job took them to the Tampa Bay area of Florida where they resided for nearly 19 years before a job transfer brought them to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While in Florida, Fran worked for the United States Postal Service for over 17 years. She retired in 1994 when she and Don moved to Albuquerque. Over the years they enjoyed travelling. In 1985 they took Fran’s dream trip of visiting Ireland where they spent two weeks. In 2004 they were in Copenhagen at the time of the Danish royal wedding. They did Volksmarches (10km organized walks) in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico. They went to Hawaii eleven times including one in 2000 where they renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary in a torch light ceremony at the Fern Grotto on the island of Kauai. Fran was an active member of the Irish American Society of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Rose Society. She served as President of the Albuquerque Rose Society for two terms in 2002 to 2004 and was the recipient of the American Rose Society Bronze Honor Medal in 2012 for service to the local society. Fran and Don had a backyard filled with approximately 150 rose bushes. Fran’s mother was named Rose and she loved America’s National Flower.
Fran was predeceased by her parents William and Rose McGinnis brothers Robert McGinnis, Richard (Bud) McGinnis, Ronald McGinnis, and sister Rosemarie (Sis) Rutkowski. Fran is survived by her husband Don of Albuquerque, sister-in law Marian McGinnis of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, sister-in-law Marlane McGinnis of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Donations in memory of Fran can be made to the Albuquerque Rose Society, 9601 Pebble DR NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111-5810; the Irish American Society of New Mexico, PO Box 13435, Albuquerque, NM 87192-3435: or the Alzheimer’s Association, website: alz.org.