Rowena Leitner Hardy, born 6/5/1926 in Klein Community between Spring and Tomball in northern Harris County, passed away peacefully at Houston Hospice on 12/27/2013 after a well-lived life of love and service to her Lord, her family, her friends and her community. Rowena Maria (named after her Godmother, Rowena Limmroth and aunt, Maria Haim Loetsch) was the youngest of six children born to Austrian immigrants George Leitner and Katrina "Katie" Haim Leitner. Rowena (aka "Rena" or "Ro") spoke often and fondly of her childhood on the farm with her loving and protective big brothers and how they held dances with the neighbors on Saturday nights as her daddy played the accordion. Rowena's sisters married when she was young so it was not until they were adults that their relationships were firmly forged. The Leitner siblings remained close throughout their lives and enjoyed many holidays together. Baby Rowena was the most gregarious of the lot and never went unnoticed.
Rowena graduated from Klein High School at the age of 16 and moved to Houston. There were a few classes at U of H but she soon landed a job that she loved as an executive secretary (a term she never saw reason to stop using) to Mr. Wilkinson at the advertising agency of Wilkinson, Schiwetz and Tips. A certain Deane Hardy started work there on June 5, 1950 (Rowena's birthday) and they married some six months later on January 13, 1951. Deane and Rowena had been married for 56 years when he passed on September 16, 2007. Deane and Rowena's eldest child, Lisa Lee Hardy, died shortly after birth but Rowena is survived by her daughter, Holly Ann Hardy of Houston and her son, Hal Deane Hardy of San Diego, CA and his wife, Terri Hardy and their daughter and son-in-law Brittany and Adam Billings. Rowena was predeceased by her parents, her three brothers and one sister - Carl M. Leitner, George W. Leitner and Rudolph V. Leitner and Louise Leitner Nagy. Rowena is survived by one sister, Elizabeth "Alice" Nagy and sister-in-laws Barbara Leitner, Virginia Leitner and Wanda Hardy Smith. Rowena also leaves behind to miss her zaniness many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, honorary granddaughter Elodie Broussard and many, many friends.
Shortly after marrying, Deane and Rowena moved to Spring Branch in what was then a suburb to Houston. Their first home was in the Norcrest Subdivision and the young couples that Deane and Rowena befriended on their block joined them in bowling leagues, dance clubs, and many other activities and remained dear friends for life. Rowena had a strong faith from an early age and she and Deane became members of Terrace United Methodist Church shortly after it was founded. Rowena remained in Spring Branch and an active member of Terrace until just before her passing - supporting it, as she promised, with "her prayers, her presence, her gifts and her service." Perhaps her biggest frustration in her final months was the inability to attend church and Sunday school classes at Terrace.
Rowena was a devoted and loving mother and a constant presence at young Holly and Hal's classrooms - always the homeroom mother, PTA President and orchestrator of sporting activities, school carnivals, field trips, etc., etc. She's the mom that all the kids remember because she was loud, loving and ALWAYS AROUND. Her children consider themselves fortunate indeed to have been offered such consistent and unconditional love.
A memorial service to celebrate the life and passing of Rowena will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in the sanctuary at Terrace United Methodist Church, 1203 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055. A reception will follow at the church with a light lunch provided. Donations in memory of Rowena to Terrace United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America would be much appreciated.
Published in Houston Chronicle from Dec. 29 to Dec. 30, 2013
Rowena graduated from Klein High School at the age of 16 and moved to Houston. There were a few classes at U of H but she soon landed a job that she loved as an executive secretary (a term she never saw reason to stop using) to Mr. Wilkinson at the advertising agency of Wilkinson, Schiwetz and Tips. A certain Deane Hardy started work there on June 5, 1950 (Rowena's birthday) and they married some six months later on January 13, 1951. Deane and Rowena had been married for 56 years when he passed on September 16, 2007. Deane and Rowena's eldest child, Lisa Lee Hardy, died shortly after birth but Rowena is survived by her daughter, Holly Ann Hardy of Houston and her son, Hal Deane Hardy of San Diego, CA and his wife, Terri Hardy and their daughter and son-in-law Brittany and Adam Billings. Rowena was predeceased by her parents, her three brothers and one sister - Carl M. Leitner, George W. Leitner and Rudolph V. Leitner and Louise Leitner Nagy. Rowena is survived by one sister, Elizabeth "Alice" Nagy and sister-in-laws Barbara Leitner, Virginia Leitner and Wanda Hardy Smith. Rowena also leaves behind to miss her zaniness many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, honorary granddaughter Elodie Broussard and many, many friends.
Shortly after marrying, Deane and Rowena moved to Spring Branch in what was then a suburb to Houston. Their first home was in the Norcrest Subdivision and the young couples that Deane and Rowena befriended on their block joined them in bowling leagues, dance clubs, and many other activities and remained dear friends for life. Rowena had a strong faith from an early age and she and Deane became members of Terrace United Methodist Church shortly after it was founded. Rowena remained in Spring Branch and an active member of Terrace until just before her passing - supporting it, as she promised, with "her prayers, her presence, her gifts and her service." Perhaps her biggest frustration in her final months was the inability to attend church and Sunday school classes at Terrace.
Rowena was a devoted and loving mother and a constant presence at young Holly and Hal's classrooms - always the homeroom mother, PTA President and orchestrator of sporting activities, school carnivals, field trips, etc., etc. She's the mom that all the kids remember because she was loud, loving and ALWAYS AROUND. Her children consider themselves fortunate indeed to have been offered such consistent and unconditional love.
A memorial service to celebrate the life and passing of Rowena will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in the sanctuary at Terrace United Methodist Church, 1203 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055. A reception will follow at the church with a light lunch provided. Donations in memory of Rowena to Terrace United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America would be much appreciated.
Published in Houston Chronicle from Dec. 29 to Dec. 30, 2013
Rowena Leitner Hardy, born 6/5/1926 in Klein Community between Spring and Tomball in northern Harris County, passed away peacefully at Houston Hospice on 12/27/2013 after a well-lived life of love and service to her Lord, her family, her friends and her community. Rowena Maria (named after her Godmother, Rowena Limmroth and aunt, Maria Haim Loetsch) was the youngest of six children born to Austrian immigrants George Leitner and Katrina "Katie" Haim Leitner. Rowena (aka "Rena" or "Ro") spoke often and fondly of her childhood on the farm with her loving and protective big brothers and how they held dances with the neighbors on Saturday nights as her daddy played the accordion. Rowena's sisters married when she was young so it was not until they were adults that their relationships were firmly forged. The Leitner siblings remained close throughout their lives and enjoyed many holidays together. Baby Rowena was the most gregarious of the lot and never went unnoticed.
Rowena graduated from Klein High School at the age of 16 and moved to Houston. There were a few classes at U of H but she soon landed a job that she loved as an executive secretary (a term she never saw reason to stop using) to Mr. Wilkinson at the advertising agency of Wilkinson, Schiwetz and Tips. A certain Deane Hardy started work there on June 5, 1950 (Rowena's birthday) and they married some six months later on January 13, 1951. Deane and Rowena had been married for 56 years when he passed on September 16, 2007. Deane and Rowena's eldest child, Lisa Lee Hardy, died shortly after birth but Rowena is survived by her daughter, Holly Ann Hardy of Houston and her son, Hal Deane Hardy of San Diego, CA and his wife, Terri Hardy and their daughter and son-in-law Brittany and Adam Billings. Rowena was predeceased by her parents, her three brothers and one sister - Carl M. Leitner, George W. Leitner and Rudolph V. Leitner and Louise Leitner Nagy. Rowena is survived by one sister, Elizabeth "Alice" Nagy and sister-in-laws Barbara Leitner, Virginia Leitner and Wanda Hardy Smith. Rowena also leaves behind to miss her zaniness many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, honorary granddaughter Elodie Broussard and many, many friends.
Shortly after marrying, Deane and Rowena moved to Spring Branch in what was then a suburb to Houston. Their first home was in the Norcrest Subdivision and the young couples that Deane and Rowena befriended on their block joined them in bowling leagues, dance clubs, and many other activities and remained dear friends for life. Rowena had a strong faith from an early age and she and Deane became members of Terrace United Methodist Church shortly after it was founded. Rowena remained in Spring Branch and an active member of Terrace until just before her passing - supporting it, as she promised, with "her prayers, her presence, her gifts and her service." Perhaps her biggest frustration in her final months was the inability to attend church and Sunday school classes at Terrace.
Rowena was a devoted and loving mother and a constant presence at young Holly and Hal's classrooms - always the homeroom mother, PTA President and orchestrator of sporting activities, school carnivals, field trips, etc., etc. She's the mom that all the kids remember because she was loud, loving and ALWAYS AROUND. Her children consider themselves fortunate indeed to have been offered such consistent and unconditional love.
A memorial service to celebrate the life and passing of Rowena will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in the sanctuary at Terrace United Methodist Church, 1203 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055. A reception will follow at the church with a light lunch provided. Donations in memory of Rowena to Terrace United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America would be much appreciated.
Published in Houston Chronicle from Dec. 29 to Dec. 30, 2013
Rowena graduated from Klein High School at the age of 16 and moved to Houston. There were a few classes at U of H but she soon landed a job that she loved as an executive secretary (a term she never saw reason to stop using) to Mr. Wilkinson at the advertising agency of Wilkinson, Schiwetz and Tips. A certain Deane Hardy started work there on June 5, 1950 (Rowena's birthday) and they married some six months later on January 13, 1951. Deane and Rowena had been married for 56 years when he passed on September 16, 2007. Deane and Rowena's eldest child, Lisa Lee Hardy, died shortly after birth but Rowena is survived by her daughter, Holly Ann Hardy of Houston and her son, Hal Deane Hardy of San Diego, CA and his wife, Terri Hardy and their daughter and son-in-law Brittany and Adam Billings. Rowena was predeceased by her parents, her three brothers and one sister - Carl M. Leitner, George W. Leitner and Rudolph V. Leitner and Louise Leitner Nagy. Rowena is survived by one sister, Elizabeth "Alice" Nagy and sister-in-laws Barbara Leitner, Virginia Leitner and Wanda Hardy Smith. Rowena also leaves behind to miss her zaniness many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, honorary granddaughter Elodie Broussard and many, many friends.
Shortly after marrying, Deane and Rowena moved to Spring Branch in what was then a suburb to Houston. Their first home was in the Norcrest Subdivision and the young couples that Deane and Rowena befriended on their block joined them in bowling leagues, dance clubs, and many other activities and remained dear friends for life. Rowena had a strong faith from an early age and she and Deane became members of Terrace United Methodist Church shortly after it was founded. Rowena remained in Spring Branch and an active member of Terrace until just before her passing - supporting it, as she promised, with "her prayers, her presence, her gifts and her service." Perhaps her biggest frustration in her final months was the inability to attend church and Sunday school classes at Terrace.
Rowena was a devoted and loving mother and a constant presence at young Holly and Hal's classrooms - always the homeroom mother, PTA President and orchestrator of sporting activities, school carnivals, field trips, etc., etc. She's the mom that all the kids remember because she was loud, loving and ALWAYS AROUND. Her children consider themselves fortunate indeed to have been offered such consistent and unconditional love.
A memorial service to celebrate the life and passing of Rowena will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in the sanctuary at Terrace United Methodist Church, 1203 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055. A reception will follow at the church with a light lunch provided. Donations in memory of Rowena to Terrace United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America would be much appreciated.
Published in Houston Chronicle from Dec. 29 to Dec. 30, 2013
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