ORLAND – Diane (Nightingale) Hardie, 58, loving wife, mother, and caregiver to many, died peacefully May 28, 2007, at a Bangor hospital. She was born March 7, 1949, in Farmington, daughter of Donald and Erselene (Harris) Nightingale. Diane graduated from Bucksport High School in 1967 and immediately completed her nursing training at St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor, where her lengthy nursing career began. After a year of nursing at St. Joseph Hospital, her soul mate, Edd Hardie, returned from Army training and they were married Aug. 31, 1969. Ed’s military career led them to many places where she used her nursing skills to impact many. In the Panama Canal Zone, where their two children were born, she was an emergency room nurse for four years. During their three years in Germany, she oversaw the care of the recreation services for the Youth Activities Program of the base, which was a very demanding position. During their time stationed in Oklahoma, she was in charge of the Unit of Basic Trainees Minor Medical Difficulties, at the military hospital. After Edd’s retirement from the Army in 1983, they returned to Maine where she cared for geriatric patients for nearly 20 years at the Penobscot Nursing Home, and four years at Sonogee Estates, Bar Harbor, while raising a family, caring for her disabled husband, elderly mother, and providing a safe, comforting, and stable home life to many, many foster children. Diane was a remarkable woman who always put others before her and did so in a quiet, humble manner. She has continued to give to others even after her death, as her wish to be an organ donor was followed and successful. In addition to her mother, Erselene Nightingale of Orland, she is survived by her loving husband of nearly 38 years, Edd Hardie; a daughter, Nanita Hardie and her partner, Roy Saunders and their daughter, Josulynn, all of Orland; a son, Darron Hardie and his wife, Rose Anna and their children, D’Anna and Draven, all of Ellsworth; a sister, Deborah Nightingale of Orland; a brother, Gary Nightingale of Mississippi; and two nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Donald Nightingale, in 1997. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at Orland United Methodist Church. Interment will be at Back Ridge Cemetery, Orland. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to Nichol’s Day Camp, P.O. Box 472, Blue Hill, ME 04614 to help send kids that can’t afford it, to summer camp. Arrangements by Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport.
DIANE (NIGHTINGALE) HARDIE
