L. Rae Hardy

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of L. Rae Hardy, age 78, on December 25, 2024, in her hometown of Wilmington, DE.

Born April 20, 1946, Rae was the youngest of two children of Harold (Mac) McClintock (1914-1980) and E. Lavinia McClintock (1916-2002).  The family moved often, residing at various times in Saudi Arabia, Greece, Lebanon, Turkey, St. Croix, California, and Alabama.  Eventually they built a home in New Jersey, the Victory Lakes community of Williamstown with her older brother Bruce McClintock.  Rae earned an associate’s degree from Goldey-Beacom College, worked as a longtime bookkeeper in the construction and defense industries, and married Armand (AJ) Hardy.  They lived in Delaware where sons Eric and Shane were born and eventually divorced in 1985.

Rae had a full and thriving life, often traveling when she could, spending time in her gardens, supporting her children in their wild endeavors, and hanging out with friends and family.  She loved going to the theater, taking in all sorts of Broadway and off-Broadway productions.  She also had a special affinity for cooking, often treating her family and friends to special meals including moussaka, fried mice, and her famous spaghetti sauce.  Rae loved animals.  She provided homes to a host of dogs and cats, was an active member of the Philadelphia Zoo, and donated often to the World Wildlife Fund supporting the endangered tigers.  Despite being a single mother raising her two children, Rae always found an opportunity to be there for her friends and family while balancing life’s adversity.  She will always be remembered as a fierce and loyal friend and auntie, a connoisseur of the best sarcasm the world has to offer, and the world’s official ‘toad’ designation authority.

A longtime resident of Delaware and south eastern Pennsylvania, Rae is survived by her children Eric and wife Jeanette Hardy of Watertown, NY, and Shane and wife Renee Hardy of Wilmington, DE; a brother Bruce McClintock and sister-in-law Monica McClintock of Williamstown, NJ; two nieces Dawn and husband David  and children Zoe and Caleb Jenkins and Kimberly McClintock and husband David Wroblewski; and eight grandchildren Andrew Hardy, Hunter Hardy, Kyra Hardy, Kendyl Hardy, Meagan Hinkal, Jacob Hinkal, Bella Hardy, and Jewel Hardy.

A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, January 18th at the Brotherhood Cemetery on Walnut Street in Williamstown, NJ at 11:30AM.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Rae’s memory to the World Wildlife Fund @ https://www.worldwildlife.org.

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