Cover photo for Dorothy Elizabeth Harding's Obituary
1930 Dorothy 2023

Dorothy Elizabeth Harding

December 30, 1930 — January 4, 2023

Rio Rancho

 

Dorothy Elizabeth Harding, beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother peacefully left this earth on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at age 92, to reunite with her husband, Lenny, and daughter, Gwen. 

 

A longtime resident of Rio Rancho, NM, she was loved by all, and her beautiful spirit and love of life will be greatly missed.

 

Dottie was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert F. Aubert and Myrtle M. Aubert; Her brother, Hubert F. Aubert Jr.; her daughter, Gwendolyn H. Hester; and her husband of 64 years, Leonard J. Harding.

 

She is survived by her son-in-law, Douglas V. Hester (Gwendolyn-late) and partner, Kathryn Roberts, of Rio Rancho, NM; her two grandsons: Zachary D. Hester and wife, Lori, of Albuquerque, NM, and Nicholas D. Hester and partner, Andrea Rascon-Thorpe, of Albuquerque, NM; great-grandchildren: Tanner Z. Rodriquez, Tyler J. Rodriquez, Violet M. Hester, Elliott H. Hester, Hayden “Beau” D. Hester, and Andrew M. Thorpe; her aunt, Lucy Kadair, of Baton Rouge, LA; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

 

Dottie was born on December 30, 1930, on a kitchen table on Atlantic Street in the Algiers area of New Orleans, LA.  She grew up in a small-town atmosphere with family and friends. She loved swimming, going to the beach, and was an excellent dancer all of her life. She graduated from Holy Name of Mary and worked in a shop next to the Algiers Fire Station.  There, she met the love of her life, Leonard Harding, a firefighter and WWII navy veteran.  They married in 1949 and started their family in 1952 when Gwen, their only child, was born.  Dottie, Lenny and Gwen enjoyed the activities of NOLA, such as Mardi Gras parades, music, fishing, Lake Ponchartrain, and the Bucktown seafood restaurants where delicious boiled and fried seafood was served with French bread and cold beer. Dottie worked as an administrator for Radiofone until retirement. Dottie and Lenny retired to Rio Rancho to share their lives with their daughter, Gwen, son-in-law, Doug, and grandsons, Zachary and Nicholas, and eventually, their families. She loved and doted on all of her great-grandchildren.  She loved to tease and held her own in any conversation.

 

Dottie’s strength, character, optimism, and warrior spirit helped her survive losing her daughter in 2012, her husband in 2014 and recent medical challenges.

 

She was a shining example of how to live for us all. 

 

Pallbearers: Douglas Hester, Zachary Hester, Nicholas Hester, Tanner Rodriquez, Tyler Rodriquez.

Honorary Pallbearers: Elliott Hester, Hayden Hester.

 

Services will take place on Friday, January 13th, 2023, at Daniels Family Funeral Services – Sara Chapel, located at 4310 Sara Rd. SE, Rio Rancho, New Mexico, 87124. Open viewing and visitation will take place from 11:30AM to 12:30PM. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 12:30PM with Mass to follow directly after. Immediately following Mass, Interment will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, located on 7999 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87109.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Elizabeth Harding, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Viewing

Friday, January 13, 2023

11:30am - 12:30 pm (Mountain time)

Daniels Family Funeral Services - Sara Chapel

4310 Sara Rd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Rosary

Friday, January 13, 2023

12:30 - 1:00 pm (Mountain time)

Daniels Family Funeral Services - Sara Chapel

4310 Sara Rd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass

Friday, January 13, 2023

1:00 - 2:00 pm (Mountain time)

Daniels Family Funeral Services - Sara Chapel

4310 Sara Rd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Interment

Friday, January 13, 2023

Starts at 2:30 pm (Mountain time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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