Edna Virginia Hardee

On Sunday; October 21, 2012; Edna Virginia Boothe Hardee left this earth to join her heavenly Father and to be reunited with loved ones previously departed. In her final moments, she was surrounded by immense love from family who were beside her and those with her in spirit. Born in Fernandina, Florida in 1913 to James Conley Boothe and Edna Rogers Weimer, Virginia would have been 99 years old on December 1st. Following her graduation from Fernandina High School, she traveled the Southern states directing and producing various stage plays. In 1934, Virginia Boothe married her high school sweetheart, Cecil Marvin Hardee, Sr; with whom she created and shared a beautiful life for 73 years. In 1941, Virginia and Marvin moved to Morgan City, Louisiana where they raised their five children and became active members of the community. Virginia began her life of volunteer service as a charter member of Lakewood Hospital's Ladies Auxiliary (The Pink Ladies), where she held a lifetime membership and recorded over 15,000 service hours. She continued her service with the Ladies Auxiliary until she was well into her 90s. She was instrumental in the founding of the Lakewood Hospital Candy Stripers. Her involvement with the hospital even led her grandson Joey to believe his grandmother owned the hospital. It was a rational belief for everyone considering her constant presence at the hospital volunteering for our local residents. Virginia was also an avid pianist. She became a teacher when her granddaughter, Denee Bruni Rosasco became her first student. She taught all of her grandchildren and many of her great-grandchildren how to read music and play the piano. She also taught public piano lessons to members of the community until she was 90 years old, ensuring that there was always music being created in her home and in the homes of her neighbors. Virginia played bridge with her group of friends, and saved all of their score cards from nearly 50 years of games. She loved playing golf with her husband, grandchildren, and friends at the St. Mary Golf & Country Club. She loved the beach and traveled back to Fernandina Beach, FL every year. She loved: needlepoint, cross stitching, tatting, knitting, and crocheting. Her gift of sewing remains evident in the many blankets, clothes, and booties made with love for her children and grandchildren. Virginia was an avid reader and passed her passion onto her children and grandchildren of whom many hold college degrees and beyond. Later in life, she enjoyed her bingo games at Patterson Health Care. She was especially close to the members of The St Mary Parish Kiwanis Club who volunteered their time hosting bingo. Furthermore, she was a sports fanatic. She and Marvin always had two televisions in their home to ensure that the family didn't miss any games played, especially during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the playoffs. She read the sports section diligently and watched ESPN every day. At any given moment, Virginia could rattle off college and professional statistics until her last day. She loved all sports and passed that love, and her competitive nature, on through her family. Virginia loved her church, Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church where she served as Superintendant of Sunday School Education and volunteered in the church for over 40 years. She and her husband, Marvin worked diligently with a church committee to design and construct the church's educational building. Even after she was no longer able to attend Sunday services, she had recordings of the services and programs brought to her home so she could continue on as a part of the church she loved so much. As shrimping pioneers in our community, Virginia and the Hardee family were active in the Shrimp & Petroleum Festival. The family business donated thousands of pounds of shrimp to the festival over the years. Virginia offered many volunteer hours to several different aspects of the festival. Her five children all served as members of the children’s and adult courts, as kings queens, maids and pages. The tradition of queens, maids and pages continued on through her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Virginia Hardee was a Past President of United Methodist Women's Society; Past President of Morgan City Junior High and High School PTA; and Past President of the Morgan City Garden Club. As a Past President of MCHS Band Boosters, she was instrumental in gathering donations to get the MCHS band their very first band uniforms. For many years, Virginia volunteered and supported Morgan City's Community Concert. She was Woman of the Year for Beta Sigma Phi and was subsequently awarded a key to the city for outstanding service to her community. Of a lifetime of service and achievements, the greatest remains the extraordinary family of which she was the quintessential matriarch. Virginia was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Throughout her life, she ensured that her family celebrated every holiday together and would spend as much time as possible with one another. She created elaborate feasts for every Thanksgiving, and Christmas; and began the tradition of “Sunday Dinners” within the family. The Hardee home would serve as a gathering place during the time between Christmas and the New Year, where family and friends alike would gather for home-cooked meals, homemade cookies, and games. Every year Good Friday was the day that the family gathered as she hosted her annual Easter Egg Hunt. The children and grandchildren looked forward to this event even as adults. Nothing brought Virginia greater joy than seeing her family laughing and eating together; sharing their journeys with one another. Her legacy lives on through the lives of those she leaves behind. Her passion for life, her vivacious and competitive nature, her sense of humor, flair for the dramatic, and her love for her family is evident in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She would often say, as she gazed lovingly over her family, “Just think, I started all of this…” And, what she created was beautiful… Virginia is survived by five children, Marvin Hardee Jr. and his wife Maria Davis Hardee of Dallas, TX; Dana Hardee Bruni and her husband Joe Bruni, Jr of Bayou Vista, LA; Richard (Jiggie) Hardee and his wife Ila Robicheaux Hardee of Morgan City, LA; Elna Hardee Jones and her husband Thomas of Dallas TX; and Conley Hardee and his wife Ruthie Aucoin Hardee of Plano, TX;; fourteen grandchildren, Denee’ Bruni Rosasco, Joe (Joey) Bruni, III, Rhonda Bruni Guillory, Shannon Bruni, Hal Bruni, Towney Hardee, Benny Hardee, Deanie Jones Soignier, Elna Jones Boudreaux, David Hardee, Dr. Eric Hardee, Jayme Hardee Hawthorne, Kern Hardee, and Kevin Hardee, 28 great-grand children and 7 great-great-grand children. Virginia was preceded in death by the love of her life, Cecil Marvin Hardee Sr, one granddaughter, Kara Hardee Coup, one great-grandson, Jacob Keith Bruni, one great-granddaughter Allie Marie Boudreaux, her parents James Conley Boothe and Edna Rogers Weimer, and her brother Conley James Boothe. Pallbearers are Joe (Joey) Bruni, III, Hal Bruni, Brock Landry, Chas Cranford, Johnny Lancon, Randy Landry, Dr. Eric Hardee. Honorary pallbearer is Mr. James “Jimmy” Manuel. With love and appreciation, the family would like to thank Mary Crosby for six years of loving devoted service. The family would also like to thank, cherished family friend Dickie Price and the employees of Patterson Health Care. All services in remembrance of the extraordinary life of Edna Virginia Hardee will be held on Tuesday; October 23, 2012 at Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church located at 517 Federal Ave in Morgan City. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm with funeral services at 2:00pm. Virginia will be laid to rest beside her husband Marvin in the Morgan City Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Pharr Chapel United Methodist Church in Morgan City, LA.