ANDOVER, Mass. – Mary Harding, 90, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, July 3, 2010, in the company of family members. She was born Mary Virginia Rush in Benedicta, the eldest of the 11 children of Daniel B. and Ora (Theriault) Rush. She was the organist and pianist for St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Benedicta, and valedictorian of her class. Mary was a graduate of Madigan Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Houlton, and worked as a registered nurse for Providence (R.I.) Lying Inn; St. Francis, Hartford, Conn.; and Holy Family, Methuen, Mass., hospitals, as well as Merrimack College Health Center. In 1942 she married John Cyril Harding of Bangor, a chief petty officer and aviation instructor for the U.S. Navy. After the war they settled in Hartford, Conn., to raise an eventual nine children. In 1959 the couple and their eight surviving children relocated to Andover, Mass., where John was employed as a methods engineer for Raytheon Missile Systems until his death in 1979. Mary loved music, to sing and dance, and above all, loved her children. She was a devoted Catholic and faithful parishioner of St. Augustine Church, Andover, Mass., for more than 50 years. Along with her dear friend and companion of 23 years, J. Anthony “Tony” Clinton of Lawrence, Mass., Mary is survived by her son, John C. Jr. and wife, Arline (Lunny) Harding, of Framingham, Mass.; son, Donald and wife, Bonny (Walker) Harding, of Andover, Mass.; son, Michael and wife, Joan (McAree) Harding, of Methuen, Mass.; son, David of Groveland, Mass.; daughter, Mary Anne and husband, Dennis Richards, of Andover, Mass.; son, Timothy of South Boston, Mass.; daughter, Kathleen and husband, Vartan Dirinian, of Watertown, Mass.; son, Joseph and wife, Norma (Lane) Harding, of Chester, N.H.; brother, Richard Rush of Benedicta; sister, Leah McKnight of Framingham, Mass.; sisters, Evelyn McLaughlin, Lyn Peters and Donna Puckett of Nashua, N.H.; sister, Jean Crouse of Great Bend, Kan.; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Mary joins her sweet little daughter, Mary Patricia. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at St. Augustine Church, 43 Essex St., Andover, Mass. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Calling hours will be held 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main St., Andover, Mass. Burial will be at St. Augustine Cemetery, Andover, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Father Ignatius Harding, care of Peter Harding, 3 Knoll Lane, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
MARY HARDING
