Ann Hardies

"Life's Amazing Journey" Ann Hardies passed away peacefully on February 11th, 2017 having been admitted to Angela Hospice on Friday, February 10th. Her only son, Bob, was with her when she passed. She had just turned 92 on February 5th. Ann was the beloved wife of the late Robert Alfred Hardies, loving mother of her only son Robert Alexander Hardies and dear sister of Bobby Ray Hardin. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and Abbey. A Celebration of Life Service for Ann will be held at a later date. A Private Interment will take place at Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to: Seedlings Braille Books for Children 14151 Farmington Road Livonia, MI, 48154 Please share a memory of Ann by signing her guestbook. Ann was born Novalette Anamarylis Hardin on February 5th, 1925 in Ellisville, Mississippi. Her parents were Durand Alexander Hardin, aka "Dude," and Leler Vasti McNeil Hardin, aka "Vasti." All her life, Vasti was called "Vashti," a name that stuck even though there was no "h" in her name. How Vasti came to choose Ann's name is an interesting story. It's been rumored that Vasti had a French friend named Novi (Na-Vee). So to honor Novi, she named her daughter "Novalette." And as for "Anamarylis," it was the name of a character in a novel Vasti was readin' at the time. Ann spend most of her formative years in Richton, MS, a thriving small town with about 2000 inhabitants and two stop lights. Richton is located 90 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico and 30 miles east of Hattiesburg, MS, just 20 miles west of the Alabama line. After training in Vicksburg, MS, Ann became a Registered Nurse, eventually specializing as a surgical nurse at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis. She met her future husband, Robert, a native Detroiter, when he was stationed at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg during WWII before being shipped overseas. Like so many of her fellow nurses, she participated in the USO dances that were put on for the soldiers. Ann was very popular and her dance card was often filled up. But Robert managed to get in his share of dances with Ann, who loved dancing as much as he did. When Ann and Robert got married after his honorable discharge form the Army, there was not much changin' Ann's last name. She simply dropped the "n" in Hardin and added an "es" to become Mrs. Robert Alfred Herman Hardies. In addition to being a wife and mother, Ann was a PM Shift Supervisor at Cambridge East Nursing Center in Madison Heights, MI for almost 30 years. In 1993, she came to work at her son Bob's financial planning business in Livonia, MI. Hardly a day went by that Ann was not at the office greeting clients and putting smiles on the faces of so many. Abbey may be the office D.O.G. (Designated Official Greeter), but it was Ann who charmed visitors with her smile and warm hello. While Abbey is taking the loss hard, sleeping more and moping around, she is slowly resuming her D.O.G. duties with each passing day. Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154