Sister Jane Hardison, IHM
Sister Jane Hardison, IHM, (formerly known as Sister Timothy Marie) of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at Our Lady of Peace Residence in Scranton, PA.
She was born on October 21, 1939, in Washington, NC. She was the daughter of the late Audrey and Mae Arnold Hardison. She entered the IHM Congregation on September 7, 1957, made temporary profession of her vows on March 12, 1960 and final profession of her vows on March 14, 1965.
Sister Jane served as a teacher at the following schools: St. Cecilia Elementary School in Exeter, PA, from 1960 to 1963; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School in Rocky Mount, NC, from 1963 to 1968; Saints Philip and James Elementary School in James, NY, from 1968 to 1970; St. Mary Elementary School in Goldsboro, NC, from 1970 to 1972; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1972 to 1974; Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School in Forest Hills, NY, from 1974 to 1975; St. Mary Elementary School in Manhasset, NY, from 1975 to 1978; and St. Mary High School in Manhasset, NY, from 1978 to 2003. She also served as assistant to the special education teacher at Monticello Central School District in Monticello, NY, from 2009 to 2015.
Sister Jane was a third degree black belt in karate, and was affectionately known as the "Ninja Nun" by her students. She was a gifted musician, playing piano, organ, violin and guitar, as well as a superb and beautiful singer. Jane was a mover and a shaker who loved being productive outside in the yard.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in education and a Bachelor of Music degree in violin/piano, both from Marywood College, and a Master of Music degree in music education from New York University.
She is survived by her siblings, D. Thomas Hardison of Durham, NC, Miriam (and Preston) Phillips of Byron GA, Teresa (and Danny) Smith of Chocowinity, NC, Anna (and Frank) Gray of Knoxville, TN, nieces and nephews: Ty (Shannon) Carter, Elisa Phillips, Lee (Stefanie) Phillips, Etta Carter, Daniel (Jamielyn) Smith, and Jacklyn (Todd) Buck, and several grandnieces and grandnephews.
Her longtime friends Connie McDermott and Sister Marylin Grosselfinger, IHM, of Wurtsboro, NY, also survive. They were Jane’s faithful companions for her many medical appointments and dialysis visits during her illness. She is also survived by the members of the IHM Congregation.
The funeral will be Wednesday, August 12, at 6:00 p.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 2300 Adams Avenue in Scranton. Friends may call at Our Lady of Peace Residence on Wednesday, August 12, between 3:00 p.m. and 6 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be Thursday, August 13, at St. Catherine’s Cemetery in Moscow, PA.
Memorial contributions may be made to support the retired IHM Sisters c/o the IHM Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509.
Funeral: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/70721606
Vespers: https://video.ibm.com/recorded/70713261
Reprinted from "In Memoriam" section of Journey, Fall 2015 issue
Jane was born October 21, 1939, the second of four children of Mae and Audrey Hardison. She was sister to older brother, Thomas, and sisters, Miriam and Teresa. Sister Jane grew up in Washington, North Carolina. She was proud to be a southerner and let the northerners know it! Her love for God and music was nurtured by her family. Her parents sent her to the Catholic school run by the sisters. Here she got to know the IHM community and followed her call to the Catholic faith at the age of eleven. That fidelity carried through her lifetime.
Finishing high school in Washington, NC, she entered the IHM Novitiate on September 7, 1957 in the Motherhouse in Scranton, PA. She became Sister Timothy Marie and, after her profession of vows in 1960, she started her teaching career in Exeter, Pennsylvania. She went on to earn three college degrees and complete forty-three years of ministry assignments. Jane’s last and longest term was spent at the St. Mary’s Schools in Manhasset, where she served for twenty-eight years. After caring for her ill mother for four years, she then moved to Wolf Lake in Wurtsboro, NY. Before becoming ill and starting dialysis, she was able to assist in special education at the Monticello Central School District and serve as a Eucharistic and Music Minister in St. Joseph’s Parish, Wurtsboro.
During all of those years, Jane’s intense love for the earth, all of God’s creatures, her own family, and friends was evident. She also loved, cared for, and provided for many dogs in her lifetime. Jane, your face must be licked clean in heaven! Speaking of clean, every place Jane lived was kept as clean and as functional as possible. Anyone who lived with her can attest to that. Her self-disciplined life assisted her in maintaining order in all she did.
And Jane did so many things! Her masterful teaching of so many children as well as adults left indelible marks on so many as is evident by all the “hits” on Facebook! Jane was the musical director of many musicals while teaching in high school. Her study of karate and her completion of her third degree black belt led her to being named the “ninja nun”! She loved fishing and at one time did catch a big one. She also enjoyed crabbing on the river. There are many memories of this. Sister Jane could spend most of her energy for one day gardening, caring for the land, cutting tree limbs, splitting logs, and stacking them for future firewood. Another memory is the time she walked across the Brooklyn Bridge with her friends. Sometimes Jane would enjoy the beauty of nature in whatever state she happened to be visiting or passing through. She found joy in the art of painting mushrooms. How about the times she found a baby bird and attempted to restore it to health only to have it once again fly away or the time she fed a nest of squirrels whose mother had been killed.
The band members, the mission group members and her friends were the focus of her prayer and communication by phone, e-mail, or snail mail. She was also faithful to them. For these and the friends she lived with, there are again many memories. But above all, Jane’s family was a focus of her love and affection. She looked forward to going home and in the last few years anticipated her sisters’ visit north and any time they shared together. Her nieces and nephews were special and she enjoyed sending them gifts. She loved being with them so much.
There are many untold stories of events and happenings throughout Jane’s life. It is hoped that the ones mentioned here are noteworthy and help to recognize a friend who lived her life from beginning to end with the commitment through her conversion to her God at the age of eleven to the moment she was called home. Sister Jane did fight the good fight to the end. She kept the faith. May her songs be even more lyrical now in heaven. Thank you, Jane! Forever rest in peace!
by Connie McDermott and Sister Marylin Grosselfinger, IHM
