Barbara Sullivan Hardy

Barbara Sullivan Hardy, age 83, of San Diego, CA, passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by loved ones, following a brief illness, on Friday, April 29th, 2022. Born on March 14th, 1939, in Fitchburg, MA, to Francis and Edith Sullivan, she had an older brother, Richard. She graduated from St Bernards High School, and lived in Fitchburg until the age of 20, when Barb married the love of her life, Brenton Hardy, a newly commissioned Naval Officer from the neighboring town of Lunenburg. Following their honeymoon, they moved to Norfolk, VA, where the young Ensign immediately departed on a six month deployment. This pattern of moves and deployments, on ships from Naval bases around the country, would continue over the next 30 years of their Naval career. She quickly assumed, and grew into the role of Navy Wife, homemaker, and stay-at-home-Mom, a role she cherished, and excelled at for life! They had always planned on a return “home” to Massachusetts, post career, but Barb decided that she could no longer “do snow”, and so they retired in San Diego.

Gran is survived by her husband of 63 years, Captain Brenton Hardy, USN, retired, three sons, one daughter, 8 grandchildren, one great granddaughter, and two great grandsons (on the way). Mark and Michelle (Brenton and Brooks) Hardy, of Pensacola Beach, FL, Ted and Jo Marie (Shannon and Amanda) Hardy, of Escondido,CA, Michael (Matthew and Joshua) Hardy, of San Diego, and Kelly and Chris (Shelby and Zachary) Moore of Peachtree City, GA. Her great granddaughter Remington (Brooks & Kendall) will be joined by a brother, Bowen, this month, and a cousin, Asher (Brent & Megan) later this summer. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, her daughter-in-law, Alma, and granddaughter, Kayla.

A lifelong lover of music, show tunes, and songs of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, it didn’t take much of a mention, of any kind, to send her humming and singing the song that she had just been reminded of. Her family and friends will miss her cards for every occasion, but mostly the much anticipated call on birthdays, to serenade all with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, a treasured family tradition that she continued until just days before her passing. She was always sure to add a loudly sung “and many more” at the end. And in the end, it is she who will always be cherished, loved and missed, by many…and many more!

A funeral mass will be conducted at 11am on Wednesday, June 8th, at St Therese Catholic Church in San Diego, CA. A burial ceremony will follow at Miramar National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the American cancer Society.