Published in the July 27, 2018 edition.
MELROSE — Willis E. “Billy” Hardy III, 41, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from endocarditis on July 22, 2018.
Billy was born in Melrose on January 8, 1977 to Willis and Patricia (Rahilly) Hardy. He lived in Melrose with his parents and his sister Bridget. He had three half siblings Tom, Jim and Pam who also resided in Melrose. Billy had a great sense of humor and was always quoting movies and making people laugh. He was an avid sports fan and had a passion for Michael Jordan and Notre Dame Football. In 1993, Billy became a godfather to his nephew Ryan. Billy graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1995. He worked for several years as a security guard and later for the Mount Vernon restaurant. He met his longtime partner Joanne Battista in the summer of 2007. In 2012 they had a daughter Olivia. Having Olivia was Billy’s greatest joy and he was a devoted father.
Billy was the cherished and devoted father of Olivia Hardy. Longtime partner of Joanne Battista of Lynn. Beloved son of Bill and Patricia (Rahilly) Hardy of Melrose. Loving brother of Bridget Hardy of Melrose, Tom Hardy and his wife Ellen of Marshfield, Pam Bukowski and her husband Jason of Andover and the late James Hardy and his wife Laura of Tewksbury. Proud uncle of Ryan Hardy of Melrose, Rachel, Andrea, Christopher, Brooke, Leah Hardy and Jenna and Paige Bukowski. Caring nephew of Paul M. and Thomas Rahilly of Melrose, Charles Hardy of N.C. and George Hardy and his wife Linda of N.J.
Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Thursday, July 26 from 4 – 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the Gately Funeral Home on Friday, July 27 at 10 a.m., followed by a burial at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.
