Josephine L. Hardister, born Aug. 27, 1923 in San Francisco, died peacefully on June 23, 2014, at the age of 90. She was the daughter of James and Ann Marie Denahy. She is joining her daughter, Susanne Week; and ex-husband, Ben H. Hardister, who preceded her in death.
Josephine was a legal secretary for a large legal firm when she met and married Ben Hardister. They decided to settle in Santa Rosa to raise their family in the 1940s. Josephine became very active in the Santa Rosa social scene as her husband, Ben, became a successful building contractor in the 1950s. In the ’60s, the family moved to Pope Valley, a small town in north Napa County, raising Appaloosa horses on their horse ranch. Josephine became very active writing articles in the local Pope Valley newspaper; the articles were called “Echoes of the Valley.”
The family sold the ranch and moved to Sonoma in the ’80s and, Josephine was active supporting her son, Chester, with his artist career and his activities with the Sonoma Art Guild. She was active in the “Pink Ladies Organization” at the Sonoma Valley Hospital.
Josephine loved to play bingo at the Moose Lodge and St. Francis Church, cooking for her family, and watching over her grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving children, Don Hardister, Carol Hardister Bambury, Ben (Chester) Hardister; her grandchildren, Andrew (Andy) Hardister, Aaron Hardister, Suzanne Bambury, Christopher Bambury, Benjamin (Ben) Week; and her great-grandchildren William Hardister, Lucy Hardister, Suzanne Week, Jackie Week and Kenny Week.
The family would like to express deep appreciation to the nurses at Golden Living and Hospice By The Bay. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Friends are invited to a funeral service at Duggan’s Mission Chapel in Sonoma Thursday, July 24, at noon .
Private inurnnment will be held at Valley Cemetery in Sonoma at a later date.
Duggan’s Mission Chapelduggansmissionchapel.com
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