Lydia Ann (Chawner) Hadley

Lydia Ann Chawner Hadley, 87, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025, in the presence of family. Lydia was the youngest of four sisters, born September 21, 1938, in Washington, D.C., to Dr. Lowell Jenkins Chawner and Lucia Soule Chawner. Her childhood was spent between Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, experiences that sparked her adventurous spirit and lifelong passion for travel.

Lydia graduated from the American School in Japan in 1956 and went on to attend Ohio Wesleyan University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She married John Detrick,

welcomed her first two children, and earned her undergraduate degree in Home Economics & Dietetics in 1962. After college she had two more children. She raised her family while staying active in the Columbus Junior League, volunteering with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Twig #61, teaching at Columbus School for Girls, and later becoming the school’s dietitian. During summers, Lydia co-managed the Kawanhee Inn Restaurant in Maine alongside her dear friend, Jane Estabrook. Though Lydia and John would end their marriage, they remained dedicated to their children and grandchildren and maintained a lasting friendship. In 1979, Lydia married her beloved husband Benjamin F. Hadley, Jr. Together they were avid skiers and travelers, enjoying beautiful trips with friends and creating shared moments with their blended families. They supported Ballet Met and the Columbus Museum of Art. They remained devoted to each other until Ben’s passing in 2015. Lydia was a deacon of Broad Street Presbyterian Church. She volunteered at Kobacker House and Home Reach Hospice. Lydia enjoyed teaching, the arts, reading (especially biographies), playing bridge, and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Her generosity, commitment to service, and playful sense of humor made her a beloved friend and family matriarch.

Lydia is survived by her sister, Priscilla Ketscher, of Fresno, CA; children Lucia, John (Jennifer), Sam (Audrey), Andrew (Elizabeth), Kit, Susan (Bradley), Scott (Tammy), Lynne (Michael); grandchildren Chris, Keeley, Emily, Ben, Gordon, Bryn, Georgiana, Molly, Forrest, Erika, Alex, A.J., as well as great-grandchildren, special friends: Jonda, Kimberly, and Conrad, loving nieces and nephews, and her many great friends.

A celebration of life service for Lydia will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to the ProMusica Endowment Fund at https://my.promusicacolumbus.org/donate/i/endowmentgiving to provide lasting legacy of support for the chamber orchestra she cherished.

The family extends special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at First Community Village, who lovingly cared for Lydia.