Mary Hardesty Obituary

Mystic - Mary "Connie" (Babineaux) Hardesty, a native of New Iberia, La., attended Mount Carmel Convent in New Iberia, New Iberia High School, University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, La., at age 16 on the first journalism scholarship ever awarded in 1957, San Diego State College, the University of Naples, Italy, Connecticut College, and Mohegan Community College.

Connie married naval aviator Michael A. Hardesty, traveled and lived in many parts of the world and volunteered for the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Seabird Enterprises. She taught catechism with the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in Naples, Italy and Groton. She worked as secretary to Jon Kodama at Seaman's Inne, secretary for Reverend Ronald Gauss, secretary to lieutenants of the Groton Town Police Department and office assistant for the engineering department of Groton Public Works, retiring in 2002.

After retirement, Connie became a devoted grandmother. She and granddaughter Lucy had a ball playing with toys, baking cookies and making art. Connie had a flair for cooking delicious Cajun seafood and entertaining with Cajun music and jazz. She had a keen eye for decorating and a love of the arts.

She is survived by children: Mystic residents attorney Michael A. "Chip" Hardesty, artist and musician Casey (Hardesty) Cyr Gash and very special, beautiful, sweet granddaughter Lucy Rose Cyr; niece Kinta Julie "Kitty" (Babineaux) Metz of Sunset, La.; nephew Dr. Antione Todd Babineaux of Covington, La.; nephew Bastian Babineaux; and grandnieces/nephews: Sarah Trosclair, Steven Metz, Hailey Gilder, Brooks Babineaux, Alex Babineaux, Dennie Haydel, Lindsey Waguespack and Dustin Waguespack. She was predeceased by her beautiful daughter Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Hardesty; brother and best friend Antione Gerald Babineaux; brother Arthur Joseph "Boo" Babineaux: parents, Antoine Otto Babineaux and Julie Vernice (Segura) Babineaux; beautiful "Grandma" Marie Elise "Kathleen" Stansbury Segura; "the girls," Shawnee, Thelma and Duchess; and grand-dogs, Molly Ann, Sammy Rosa and Beau Beau.

Please consider a donation to Seabird Enterprises and Child and Family Agency in Groton. The Dinoto Funeral Home is assisting the family.