Obituary of Pamela T. Hard
Pamela Hard, of Garrison passed away peacefully on Monday, December 23, 2019.
Pamela, born January 26, 1936 was the daughter of Amy Marie Delamater and George Delamater of Peekskill, New York. Married to Robert W. Hard on October 7, 1956 at Assumption Church in Peekskill, she was a longtime parishioner, eucharistic minister and choir member of Our Lady of Loretto Parish at St. Joseph’s chapel of Garrison. Additionally, she served as the secretary of the Garrison school board, den mother for Cub Scouts as well as a Girl Scout leader. She held numerous positions at New Hope Manor both in Graymoor and Barryville, where she lovingly cared for the residents and made many lifelong friends. Always an educator at heart, Pam also taught nursery school at St. Philips.
Pam’s most rewarding and happiest roles, however, were those of mother and grandmother (Nana). She spent her retirement caring for her 10 grandchildren, serving as their loving caretaker, cheerleader, and teacher. Often she could be found at the Garrison School surprising the children as a guest reader or classroom helper. She was overjoyed to welcome each of her three great grandchildren who she delighted in at every visit.
Throughout her life Pam was an accomplished gardener, a brilliant cook, and an avid tennis player. She loved working on crossword puzzles and watching Jeopardy. Always the warmest and most welcoming hostess, she never missed 5pm wine time with her husband Bob and any friends and family who came to visit. Pamela was the true definition of a matriarch, caring for everyone and everything in her life with impeccable grace and kindness. She was a beacon of strength, compassion, loyalty, and love to all who knew her. She is dearly missed, especially by the family she so lovingly built and nurtured through the years.
Pamela is pre-deceased by her brothers Raymond and James (Jim-Bob) Delamater. She is survived by her husband Robert Hard, brothers George (Dill) Delamater Jr. (Mary Lou) of Peekskill, Patrick Delamater (Adrienne) of Houston Texas, sister in law Catherine Delamater of Manassas Virginia; her five children: Francis Hard (Pamela Hard), Robert Hard (Kathy DiBart), Mary Haskell (Tony Haskell), Susan Freeman (Robert Freeman), Joseph Hard; ten grandchildren; Amy (Michael Nishimura) Haskell, Zachary Freeman, William (Taylor) Haskell, Molly (Connor) Walsh, Lucas (Paige) Freeman, Robert Haskell, Madison Freeman, Sarah Hard, Matthew Hard, Jacob Hard; many nieces and nephews and three great grandchildren: Derek and Evelyn Nishimura and Ronan Walsh. She is also survived by her most recent of at least 17 pets, her two puppy dogs, Angus and Pippa, and cat, Jasper.
