Obituary of Esther Nancy Hardison

On January 20, 2021, Esther Nancy Bradley Hardison passed away peacefully at home in the care of her family and of Niagara Hospice. She was 94. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Theda Bradley. Esther lived her whole life in Ransomville, New York, beginning with having been born on Halloween day, 1926, on the Bradley farm. She worked along with her parents and siblings raising and selling a great variety of fruits and vegetables. Esther was an excellent student and loved to read and was even spelling bee champion of her class one year. She graduated from Wilson High School at the age of 16 in 1942. She was a frequent patron of the Ransomville library, and often traded books with her sister Millie in their adult years. After high school, Esther continued to work on the Bradley farm, and also worked for a few years at Carborundum in Lockport. Esther married Denton Edson Hardison on January 18, 1951 at the Porter Center United Methodist Church, shortly before Denton was enlisted in the Air Force. During his time of service, the couple moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Esther gave birth to their first child, Jan. Soon after, the young family returned to Ransomville to move into the house which they have occupied for 65 years. Esther’s most important and longest held job was that of homemaker and mother to Jan, Brad, and Paige. While raising her three children, Esther found time to be active in community groups. She served in the Ransomville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary; she was a founding member of the Ransomville Garden Club; she was a member of the Ransomville United Methodist Church; and she participated in the Kiwanis Peach Festival by serving on Peach Queen Committee and by in the Peach Shortcake tent. Esther enjoyed snowmobiling and attending social events with Denton and their friends. The Hardison family vacationed on various lakes in Ontario, Canada, where they enjoyed fishing and boating. In later years, Esther enjoyed traveling with Denton, visiting famous places throughout the United States; they also spent time in Myrtle Beach, SC. In addition to reading, Esther enjoyed watching “The Wheel of Fortune”; listening to Swing and Vocal Jazz music. In later years, she enjoyed birdwatching and looking out the picture window. Mostly, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She is survived by her loving children, son Bradley and daughter Paige, grandsons Evan and Ian Hardison; sister Mildred “Millie” (late Robert) Hillman; numerous nieces and nephews; and many good neighbors and friends that she had made over her long life. Esther was pre-deceased by her oldest daughter Jan Hardison; her husband of nearly 65 years, Denton Hardison; brothers Loren Bradley; Miles (late Viola) Bradley; and Harvey (late Jean) Bradley; sisters Marion (late Seward) Shippy; Dora (late Jim) Chestnut; and Nettie (late Grant) Martin; brother-in-law Gerald (late Marion) Hardison and sister-in-law Joyce Campbell (late Roy, Sr.) Just 2 days before Esther passed, she remembered what would have been Denton and Esther's 70th wedding anniversary on January 18th. Services will be privately held with her family. Memorials may be made to the Ransomville Free Library 3733 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville, NY 14131 or the Ransomville United Methodist Church PO Box 250 Ransomville, NY 14131. Arrangements entrusted to HARDISON FUNERAL HOMES INC. Please visit www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com for online registry.