Mary "Mary Beth" E. Hardin

Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Hardin, 49, passed away suddenly after a short illness on April 11, 2023, in Rockford, Illinois. Born in Rockford on August 13, 1973, daughter to William and Arlene (Stanko) Hardin. Mary Beth graduated from Boylan Catholic High School in the class of 1991; during her grade school and high school years she was active with volleyball, softball, basketball, and played the baritone in the school band. Later in life she worked at Gerry’s Pizza for over 14 years, and recently starting a new career with the YMCA of Rock River Valley as a membership team member. This career move was very exciting for her as it perfectly paired her love of working with people with her passion for athletics. Mary Beth will be remembered as someone who was friendly and outgoing with a great sense of humor. She loved many types and genres of music with a special place in her heart for Michael Bublé, and was thrilled to have had the chance to take her two girls to see the performer at a live concert last fall. Mary Beth had a deep love of family and tradition. She deeply loved her children, who were her pride and joy. Mary Beth was extremely proud of her son as he continues to pursue higher education and she wanted to provide her girls with quality education and strong values, which would help open many opportunities in life, and also teach them compassion, kindness and true friendships, that she herself experienced as a child.

She will be missed by those who loved her most, her children Nathanael, Eleanor and Emily; her siblings Brenda (Danny) Martin, Brian Hardin, John (Natasha) Hardin and Joseph (Kellie) Hardin; nephews David, Clark, Wes and Charlie Hardin. She is predeceased by her parents William and Arlene as well as her oldest brother, William Hardin.

A visitation will take place on Friday, April 21, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive, Rockford, Illinois 61109. Private interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a fund established for her children. Please click this GoFundMe link or the link listed below under Memorial Contributions to donate.

To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com