Esther Hickerty Hardy

Esther Hardy Hickerty lived her life centered around devotion to Christ and service to others. She was a caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who took great pride in her family. Esther’s genuine affection and encouragement will forever be remembered by all who knew and loved her.

On December 30, 1947, Ford and Mary Beth Hardy joyfully took up the mantle of parenthood as they welcomed their beloved daughter, Esther Mae, into the world. The family was completed when they were blessed by the birth of her younger sister, Per.

It was clear early on that Esther’s life was not going to be an easy one. Soon after her birth, she was found to have a large hole in her heart and developed cerebral palsy. Although Esther only had the use of her left arm and had other disabilities related to cerebral palsy, her family raised her to be independent and never made her feel that she was different. Her father, a minister, and her mother, a devoted and loving homemaker, demonstrated daily the profound impact of faith and unconditional love on their children and others. As Esther reached school age, her parents searched the country to find the best school and medical care for her unique physical challenges. This search led her father to leave his role as a full-time minister in South Dakota to relocate the family to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Esther’s parents nurtured an independent spirit in her, and after a few years she convinced them to allow her to attend the public school. Since this was uncommon at the time, Esther faced challenges integrating into the new school. Nevertheless, Esther strove to defeat the stereotypes that could be associated with her disabilities and to demonstrate that we are all the same in God’s eyes. Her perseverance paid off. Through her cheerful interactions and sharing her creative writings with her high school classmates, she broke through the invisible barrier separating them, connecting with many and forming lifelong friendships with some. At the age of 17, Esther and her parents decided she should undergo open heart surgery, a procedure still in its infancy and not without significant risk. The surgery was successful and despite a lengthy recovery Esther graduated from Union High School in the Class of 1967. She pursued courses at Davenport College, Shelton College in New Jersey and correspondence courses with Liberty University.

Esther was married briefly and raised three wonderful children: Chuck, David, and Julie. While she struggled with the challenges of single motherhood which were made more difficult by her physical difficulties, her love for her children never wavered. Esther provided a home that always welcomed any in need, whether a neighbor or one of the many stray animals her children brought home. The care of these small creatures instilled a love of animals in her children. But it was when they were adolescents that she was able to give her children the greatest gift of all: the chance to witness firsthand the transformative power that truly finding Christ can bring. When Esther trusted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, her life was radically, permanently and irreversibly changed, serving as a compelling testimony to everyone who knew her. As she began living her life with a serious commitment to Christ, her actions became centered around glorifying God and encouraging others. During her life, Esther attended several churches: Greenview Baptist, Northwest Gospel Hall, Faith United Church of God, and Standale Baptist Church. Esther was active in the choir, Sunday school, and Bible Studies.

Yet, other challenges were still ahead. Esther’s life underwent another drastic change after a failed hip surgery left her confined to a wheelchair. Determined as always, she refused to allow this to limit her. Drawing strength from her faith, she kept a positive attitude and sense of humor that inspired everyone who knew her. Esther loved her freedom and after her children were grown and moved away, she did not let her disabilities limit her and continued to live independently. She found time and energy to remain an active church member, organized Bible studies with her friends and neighbors, and engaged in creative hobbies. She enjoyed gardening and kept the entrance to her apartment adorned with plants, lattices, and rose bushes. In addition, Esther exercised her mind through extensive reading, writing poetry, painting, crafts, and writing and delivering speeches for various events. Her poems were well received, some were published and others were printed and distributed by her church. She was a member of the Toastmasters Club and served in chapter leadership, earning several awards for her presentations. She made many friendships through these rich experiences. Everyone was drawn to her unrelenting optimism, captivating sense of humor and warm spirit.

One of Esther’s greatest joys was caring for her grandchildren. In fact, as a small child when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would resolutely answer, “a grandma!” At the time, she was not expected to have children; yet God in His goodness blessed her with 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren in her lifetime and another one expected later this year. With each new addition to the family, she fulfilled her childhood dream anew. She had a special touch calming her grandchildren and never passed up a chance to change a dirty diaper even though she only had one useful arm. She was affectionately called ‘Grandma Kitty’ by the grandchildren she cared for, a nickname she embraced with pride.

Described as loving, joyful, resilient, wise and inspirational, Esther unselfishly gave much of her time and resources to others. One of her favorite mottos was, "The joy of the Lord is my strength” from Nehemiah 8:10 and she attributed her positive outlook and optimism to Him. She lived with the conviction that true happiness can only come by putting Christ first before self. May her loved ones always trust that she is now perfect at home with her Lord and Savior, and may her many special memories live on eternally in their hearts.