Lydia Hardy Obituary

"Lydia Waguespack Hardy, 80, of San Antonio, TX, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on September 21, 2023, after an extended illness. She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Robert Jackson Hardy of Alexandria, LA, her beloved granddaughter, Bailey Marie Keller of San Antonio, TX, and her brother, Rudolph Andrew Waguespack, Jr, of LaPlace, LA. Lydia was born on October 25, 1942, in Gramercy, LA, to the late Enid Boutte and Rudolph Andrew Waguespack. Lydia met the love of her life, Robert, at Southeastern Louisiana University and they were married in 1964. She taught English in New Orleans while Robert pursued graduate degrees in Public Health. His career took them to California, Connecticut and finally Missouri City, TX, where they raised their two daughters. In recent years they retired in San Antonio. Lydia and Robert embraced each new place with a natural curiosity and sense of adventure that set a lasting example for their girls. Lydia also shared her curiosity and love of learning with students during twenty years as an eighth grade and sophomore English teacher. Her students, including both of her daughters, left her class knowing how to diagram a sentence and how to appreciate reading. She once said that her goal was to take a personal interest in every student, and it showed. Lydia's devotion to her family was evident in everything she did. She was the first person her family wanted on the other end of the phone when anything happened in their lives, good or bad. She dropped everything to be there, providing care and comfort, whether the trip was a few hours by car or an airplane trip across the country. To her daughters, family and friends, students, and colleagues she was gracious, thoughtful, compassionate, and selfless. Lydia is missed by many, including her daughters and their families, Alison Hardy (Andrew) DeCristofaro, Catherine and Dominic DeCristofaro, and Amy Hardy (Jay) Keller and Zachary Keller. She is also remembered by sisters-in-law Alice (Joe) Abendroth and Gayla (Rudolph Andrew, Jr) Waguespack and their families, including numerous nieces and nephews. In recent years Lydia was cared for with love by Christina Alfaro, to whom the family is eternally grateful. A private, family service will be held for Lydia at a future date. Friends and family who wish to remember her may consider making a donation to a charity close to her heart, including Make A Wish (https://wish. org/) or the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (https://curethekids. org/donate/). "