Sister Margaret Ann Harder ‘49

Sr. Margaret Ann Hardner was born in Erie and grew up on lower Chestnut Street. She is the middle child, and only daughter of Norbert F. and Margaret M. Steger Hardner. She and her brothers, Norbert and Gerald, attended Saint Patrick Grade School. She characterizes her childhood as happy and typical of the times. Her parents were role models for living their Catholic faith and stressed moral values.

Sr. Margaret Ann developed a lifelong love of swimming, due to the fact that the Chestnut Street pool was just downhill from her childhood home. On days that the pool was not open to girls, she and her friends walked to the Public Dock and took the ferry over to Waterworks Beach to spend the day swimming at Presque Isle. She still swims daily at the Glenwood YMCA, and for many years competed in the Masters Competitive Swimming program.

When it came time to choose a high school, Sr. Margaret Ann decided on Villa for many reasons, but especially because there was an indoor swimming pool! Sr. Margaret Ann was a three-year member of Student Council, serving as President her senior year. She fondly remembers her time as co-captain of the Basketball team, the “Villa Chicks”, as they were known at the time. Sr. Margaret Ann was also selected as a member of the May Court. She enjoyed spending time with her friends and especially loved to go square dancing with her friends and their dates at one of the boys’ barns. Sr. Margaret Ann loved her years at Villa and remains close with many of her classmates today.

Sr. Margaret Ann graduated from Villa in 1949, and at the end of that summer entered the congregation of

the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Three days later, at the age of 18, she was teaching 52 fourth graders at Blessed Sacrament School. Over the next several years her assignments included Saint John the Baptist in Erie and Saint Francis High School in Clearfield. She eventually returned to Erie to teach business classes at her alma mater, Villa Maria Academy. In addition to her work as a teacher, Sr. Margaret Ann attended college, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education from Villa Maria College in 1961.

After 13 years as an educator, Sr. Margaret Ann was assigned to work in the business office at Saint Vincent Hospital. She remained there for 5 years until she was encouraged by a superior to attend Xavier University to earn her Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration. By 1969, Sr. Margaret Ann returned to Saint Vincent as Assistant Administrator, and was named CEO in 1974…a position she held for 22 years until her retirement in 1996. During her tenure there, Sr. Margaret Ann oversaw the growth in facilities and services provided as Saint Vincent Hospital transitioned to Saint Vincent Health Center. Sr. Margaret Ann continues to serve the Sisters of Saint Joseph as coordinator of their health care benefits and manager of the automobile fleet.

Sr. Margaret Ann has served on numerous boards and committees, and has received many awards including: Gannon University’s Distinguished Pennsylvanian, The Papal Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Xavier University’s Distinguished Alumni, and The Tocqueville Award for Community Service.

Sr. Margaret Ann loves to travel and has visited all 50 states, 5 continents, and several islands. She has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, boated down the Amazon, ridden the canals of Venice and walked along the Great Wall of China. One of her fondest travel memories is of a round trip vacation to Alaska taken by car with her brother Norb. Sr. Margaret Ann travels to Texas annually to spend time with her brother Jerry and his wife Sara, and their children and grandchildren. Recently, Jerry’s entire family travelled to Erie to celebrate Sr. Margaret Ann’s 60th anniversary as a Sister of Saint Joseph.

In 1992, Sr. Margaret Ann combined her life’s work in education, health care, and philanthropy by helping to establish a school and a health care clinic in India. She has made 8 trips there, many with founder Kripa Singh. She works with a board here in Erie that continues to raise funds to support the mission in India.

Sr. Margaret Ann’s service to others, locally and abroad, is a fine example of the moral compass provided first by her parents, then through her education at Villa, and finally with the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Sr. Margaret Ann Hardner with Columbia & George Vlahos

Thank you Sr. Margaret Ann Hardner for your compassion and commitment not only to the Erie community, but on a global scale as well. Congratulations on your induction into the prestigious Villa Maria Academy President’s Hall of Fame.