ERNESTINE A. HARDMAN

Our hearts are broken as we have lost our treasured Mother. Ernestine A. Hardman, 91, of Windham, passed away on Monday, June 29, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. She was born January 19, 1929, in Brooksville, West Virginia to Paul and Lona (Starcher) Bower, Sr.

She was happy to have fallen in love with Paul J. Hardman and they married October 16, 1948 and were blessed to share 33 years of a wonderful marriage together and share their lives with their 2 children.

Ernestine loved being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Her pride and joy were her family, who knew they could always count on her for everything they ever needed. She was a selfless woman who always put them first. Ernestine was proud of her community and was an active member, serving as the Treasurer of the Windham Village Civil Defense Fund, Presiding Judge during Windham Village Elections and helping with Sunday School at Windham United Methodist Church. She took pride in being a wife and homemaker to her husband and children, to be at home when her children were done with school, happy to bake birthday cakes, shop for school clothes and Christmas gifts and prepare all those Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter meals for her family. She was proud of keeping a clean house, to provide clean clothes and hot meals for her family at dinner time. Ernestine and Paul enjoyed travelling and their Saturday night card parties. She loved her family all day, every day.

She overcame the early loss of her mother, sudden loss of her husband and the passing of her father. She was a strong woman. I would tell her she was a “tough old bird” and she would smile and say, “that’s right”. She was proud of being a “Bower” and took great pride in her family. We never stopped learning from her. She always had a smile for us. Whenever anyone was leaving, she would always tell you to “Be Careful” and stand on the porch or at the window and wave goodbye.

Mom didn’t have a degree, or certification, she didn’t need a title or salary. She had a calling to be a mother and homemaker. She loved her husband and children. Ernestine’s children didn’t have to go to daycare or have a sitter – Mom was always there for them. She walked her children to get on the school bus and was there to greet them when they came home from school. There was no take out or delivery, there was always a hot, home cooked meal followed by a clean kitchen before the days end. There were new clothes when school started, clean clothes and bedding every day, a clean orderly home to enjoy, time to read to her children, patch their clothes, take them to the Doctor and Dentist go to the drugstore for their medicine take care of their pets. Her husband Jack made this possible, and they both had clear understanding of what they wanted, what was important, for the family they would have together

Ernestine will be forever missed by her loving children, Douglas J. Hardman and, Anita D. Hardman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Jack, in 1981, siblings Adrian P. Bower Jr. and Geraldine Jackson.

Visitation for Ernestine will be held on Monday, July 6, 2020 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Mallory-DeHaven-Carlson Funeral Home & Cremation Services 8382 Center St. Garrettsville. A Graveside Service will be held in Windham Township Cemetery at 1:30 PM, where Ernestine will be laid to rest beside her beloved Jack. Please note: Social Distancing guidelines will apply.