Remembering Margaret Ann Hardner, SSJ

Sister Margaret Ann Hardner, SSJ, age 95, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on Saturday, October 3rd in the 77th year of her religious life. She was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 1931, the daughter of the late Norbert F. and Margaret Steger Hardner. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Patrick Parish in Erie on September 2, 1949, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1955.

Sister Margaret Ann graduated from Villa Maria Academy, Erie, PA, in 1949 and continued her education at Villa Maria College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education in 1961. Sister furthered her education with courses in religious studies at Providence College in Rhode Island, and at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, earning an MBA in Hospital Administration in 1969.

From 1949 to 1958, Sister Margaret Ann served as an elementary school teacher in Erie at Blessed Sacrament School and St. John School and at St. Francis High School in Clearfield, PA.  She also taught at Villa Maria Academy in Erie from 1958 to 1962.

In 1962, after 13 years of teaching, she was assigned to the Business Office at Saint Vincent Hospital, where she worked for five years before leaving to pursue studies at Xavier University. Upon returning to Erie, she served as Assistant Administrator at Saint Vincent, then as President and Chief Executive Officer for more than 20 years until her retirement in 1996.

In her retirement, she was instrumental in establishing the Courage to Come Back Honors (later SSJ Spirit of Courage) where she played a pivotal role in the program for more than 10 years. She also served as Insurance Coordinator and Fleet Manager for her Congregation.

Sr. Margaret Ann served on numerous boards and committees, and received many awards, including:  Gannon University’s Distinguished Pennsylvanian, The Papal Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Xavier University’s Distinguished Alumni, and The Tocqueville Award for Community Service.  She was also inducted into the Villa Maria Academy President’s Hall of Fame.

Sister Margaret had a lifelong love of swimming that began at the Chestnut Street pool close to her childhood home. As a young girl, she and her friends would  walk to the Public Dock, take the ferry across the bay, and spend the day swimming at Presque Isle. Prior to the COVID pandemic, she swam daily at the Glenwood YMCA and competed in the Masters Competitive Swimming Program, never finishing last. She was also a member of the Highmark Silver Sneakers program.

Sister Margaret Ann loved to travel and visited all 50 states, five continents, and several islands.  She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, boated down the Amazon, rode the canals of Venice, and walked along the Great Wall of China. One of her fondest memories was a road trip to Alaska with her brother Norb.  In 1992, she combined her life’s work in education, health care, and philanthropy by helping to establish a school and a health care clinic in India. She made nine trips to India, many with the clinic’s founder, Dr. Kripa Singh. She worked with the Shankar Service Foundation board in Erie to raise funds to support the mission in India. Her service to others, locally and abroad, is an example of the moral compass provided by her parents, her education at Villa, and the Sisters of St. Joseph.

In addition to her parents, Sister Margaret Ann was preceded in death by a brother, Norbert H. Hardner.  She is survived by one brother, Gerald, and his wife Sara Hardner of Georgetown, TX, as well as by nieces Sara Leon, Austin, TX; Margaret Hardner, Chesire, CT; Rebecca Haverly, Erie, PA; Elizabeth Hannick, Bronxville, NY; and by her nephew, Jared Hardner, Amherst, NH.  She is also survived by her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Friends may call at the Villa Maria Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, on Monday, October 12th beginning at 5:00 p.m. with prayer and sharing of memories and continuing until  8:00 p.m.  Calling hours will continue on Tuesday, October 13th at Holy Cross Church, 7100 West Ridge Road from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00.p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m.

The Mass will be livestreamed here.

Interment will be at Trinity Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Mission & Ministries Foundation, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA, 16506-1249 or Shankar Service Foundation, 99 Whitestone Lane, Rochester, NY 14618.  The Francis V. Kloecker Funeral Home is handling arrangements.