Obituaries

Rose M. Hardison

Rose M. Hardison, 96, lifelong resident of South Jamesport, a respected and avid bay woman, passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

Rose was born July 25, 1921, to the late Adam Kowalski and Rose Marion Raciniewski (Rogers) Kowalski. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry Shelton Hardison and her brothers, Adam “Chip” and Benjamin Kowalski.

Rose served in the U.S. Navy in World War II as an aviation machinist mate third class where she was an airport mechanic inspector for TBMs, TBYs, Corsairs and Wildcats. She thoroughly enjoyed clamming, scalloping and fishing out on the bay for years, spending many of them as the only full-time female scalloper in the area. There was no challenge she wasn’t willing to take on.

Mrs. Hardison is survived by her children, Carolyn (Michael) Fletcher of The Plains, Va., Diane Ekster of New Suffolk, Robert Hardison of Lake Jackson, Texas, and Frances Wood. Rose is also survived by her seven grandchildren; Dave and Sara Raynor, Emily Fletcher, Christopher and Jonathan Hardison, Aaron and Marc DeLyser, five great-grandchildren and her beloved dog, Angel.

The family received friends March 8 at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where religious services were held, officiated by Father Mariusz Gorazd. Interment with U.S. Navy honors took place March 9 at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the North Fork Animal Welfare League, P.O. Box 297, Southold, NY 11971

This is a paid notice.