HARDIE STEPHENS
November 25, 1936 - January 10, 2023
Obituary
Hardie C. Stephens, age 86, passed away peacefully early Tuesday, January 10, 2023. He was born November 25, 1936 to the late Horace and Bonnie Stephens on the Cherokee Reservation in North Carolina. As a young boy, Hardie's family moved to the Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee, where they shared a two-bedroom cabin, void of any running water.
After earning his GED, Hardie enlisted in the Marines and was given the opportunity to travel the world. He always said his favorite place was Italy. Eventually, Hardie established a life in Cicero, IL where he owned, managed, and cooked at a few different restaurants. In his free time, he loved to fish and often took his young daughter, Joannie, to the horse track. He'd pretend to bet on the horse of her choice, and always kick himself when her horse would actually win. After races, Joannie would pretend to fall asleep so he would have to carry her back to the car. He also enjoyed playing Rummy 500, moon pies and chocolate, and listening to “real” country music. Cooking was one of his favorite things to do, and he appreciated watching his daughter cook as well. His truest love, however, was for his grandchildren. He has recently moved to the valley to be closer to the rest of his family.
Hardie will be remembered as a quiet, soft-spoken man who always showed everyone the utmost respect, always smelled of Old Spice, and made the best ham and bean soup. He leaves behind his daughters: Joannie Parisi and Kimberly Stephens; his grandchildren: Philip and Nicholas Parisi; Alexis (Travis) Guenther; Bella and Angelo Parisi; Noah and Eden Sichelski; and Mason; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his siblings: Donald, Claude, and Mary; and by three of his children: Richard, Michael, and Robert.
A funeral service for Hardie will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Menasha's Westgor Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of service.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established.