Obituary for Virginia Pauline Hardan (Steele)
Virginia Pauline Steele Hardan
Beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Virginia Pauline Steele Hardan died on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was 68.
“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” A.A. Milne
Virginia was born in Sparta, Tennessee on December 24, 1952 to Minnie Pauline (Sosbe) Steele and Douglas JC Steele. She was one of three children.
The family moved to California in the 1960s. Virginia was a waitress in her early 20s in Los Angeles. She loved to spend her days off with family and at the beach.
Virginia was married in 1976 to Dudley Hardan. The couple welcomed a daughter, Sara Jane, the following year. While living with her family in California, Virginia worked at Sears Portrait Studio - a job is where she found her love for photography. She enjoyed working with people, especially children, and found joy in capturing their smiles and crazy poses.
In 1990, Virginia and her family moved to Nikiski, Alaska, where she made many life-long friends. She owned several small businesses, including a flower shop and a local artisans co-op. Virginia loved flowers of all kinds, especially roses, and had a knack of creating beautiful floral arrangements. She enjoyed many road trips to Homer, Seward and especially enjoyed the annual school shopping trips to Anchorage with her friends. She enjoyed seeing the state with visiting family.
She was night owl and was able to enjoy many beautiful viewings of Alaska’s Northern Lights.
She was a rock for those who depended on her, a mom to many and a friend to all. Her door was always open, you could call anytime and no matter what she was there for those she loved.
Virginia became a grandmother in 2002 and 2003. She cherished her grandchildren.
In 2014, she and her family moved to Cookeville, TN.
She is survived by her daughter, Sara Jane Hardan of Cookeville, TN; granddaughters Olivia Smith of Chattanooga, TN and Isabella Smith of Cookeville, TN; brother, Bobby Steel and family of La Mirada, CA; best friends Lezlea Brandon and daughters Ashley and Taelor and Kristy Kirsch and her children Kalie and Jake; as well as numerous cousins and their families in Tennessee and across the country.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Minnie Pauline (Sosbe) Steele, her father, Douglas JC Steele and brother Douglas Carlion Steele.
Virginia chose cremation and the family followed her wishes. A service is not planned.
Beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Virginia Pauline Steele Hardan died on Saturday, February 20, 2021 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was 68.
“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.” A.A. Milne
Virginia was born in Sparta, Tennessee on December 24, 1952 to Minnie Pauline (Sosbe) Steele and Douglas JC Steele. She was one of three children.
The family moved to California in the 1960s. Virginia was a waitress in her early 20s in Los Angeles. She loved to spend her days off with family and at the beach.
Virginia was married in 1976 to Dudley Hardan. The couple welcomed a daughter, Sara Jane, the following year. While living with her family in California, Virginia worked at Sears Portrait Studio - a job is where she found her love for photography. She enjoyed working with people, especially children, and found joy in capturing their smiles and crazy poses.
In 1990, Virginia and her family moved to Nikiski, Alaska, where she made many life-long friends. She owned several small businesses, including a flower shop and a local artisans co-op. Virginia loved flowers of all kinds, especially roses, and had a knack of creating beautiful floral arrangements. She enjoyed many road trips to Homer, Seward and especially enjoyed the annual school shopping trips to Anchorage with her friends. She enjoyed seeing the state with visiting family.
She was night owl and was able to enjoy many beautiful viewings of Alaska’s Northern Lights.
She was a rock for those who depended on her, a mom to many and a friend to all. Her door was always open, you could call anytime and no matter what she was there for those she loved.
Virginia became a grandmother in 2002 and 2003. She cherished her grandchildren.
In 2014, she and her family moved to Cookeville, TN.
She is survived by her daughter, Sara Jane Hardan of Cookeville, TN; granddaughters Olivia Smith of Chattanooga, TN and Isabella Smith of Cookeville, TN; brother, Bobby Steel and family of La Mirada, CA; best friends Lezlea Brandon and daughters Ashley and Taelor and Kristy Kirsch and her children Kalie and Jake; as well as numerous cousins and their families in Tennessee and across the country.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Minnie Pauline (Sosbe) Steele, her father, Douglas JC Steele and brother Douglas Carlion Steele.
Virginia chose cremation and the family followed her wishes. A service is not planned.