Anne Marie (Nancy) Hynes, formerly of Branford, passed away peacefully on Oct. 31, 2024. Born Sept. 30, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Molly Lardner. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Bill, and her son, Gerard.

Nancy loved life and lived it to the fullest. She spent a happy childhood at her family’s farm in Tuam, Ireland, and returned to The Bronx in 1947. She spent her high school years at St. Jean the Baptiste in Manhattan, followed by earning her undergraduate degree in psychology at Hunter College. She built life-long friendships with those she met at school and everywhere she went, and shared many joys and adventures over the years. Her fond memories of Ireland and The Bronx were a source of great pride and comfort to her throughout her life.

She and Bill enjoyed 60 years of marriage before his death in 2015. Together, they were a strong team united in purpose and love across all realms of their life, including parenting and grandparenting, volunteering, dedication to their Catholic faith and St. Therese parish, travel and enjoying life with friends and family. They were a partnership of love and strong character who have left a lasting legacy for their extended family and community.

From 1962 when they moved to Branford, Nancy’s primary focus was raising their six children: Rosanne Hynes (Alexandria, Virginia), Gerard (Kathy) Hynes (Branford), Christopher (Elizabeth) Hynes (Branford), Kevin (Lynn) Hynes (Yarmouth, Maine), Karen (James) Kachadoorian (Wilton) and Bill (Laura) Hynes (Needham, Massachusetts). She extended her loving reach when blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Dan (Sarah) Hynes (Stephens City, Virginia), James Jr. (Lisa) Kachadoorian (Redding), Christopher (Falon) Kachadoorian (Athens, Georgia), Zachary (Priya) Hynes (Westfield, New Jersey), Meaghan (Durham, North Carolina) and Caroline Kachadoorian (New York, New York), and Kristen (Pleasanton, California), Madison (Arlington, Virginia), Conor (Washington, D.C.), Abby (Berkeley, California), Daly and Brennan Hynes (Branford). Her great-grandchildren include Nathan and William Hynes, Miya Hynes, and James Kachadoorian III.

Nancy was one of five sisters known as the “Lardner Lovelies” whom she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her sisters, Katherine Waters and Teresa Lardner O.P. She is survived by Rita Sullivan and Patricia Lardner, O.P. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and godchildren, all very special to her.

Her happiest day of the year was Thanksgiving when she hosted an elaborate feast on Hemlock Road for her entire extended family across the Hynes, Sullivan, Duffy, Waters, and Lardner clans. With her cooking and Bill’s Irish Coffees, the holiday remains a very fond memory for us all.

Nancy was an intelligent, motivated and thoughtful role model who contributed greatly to the Branford community which was her home for 54 years before moving to the Village at Mariner’s Point in East Haven. In Branford, she volunteered extensively at St. Mary School and parish where she was president of the home-school association, CYO catechist, room mother, and church bazaar coordinator. She was a member of the Branford Garden Club. With Bill, she dedicated countless hours to the Ronald McDonald House in New Haven and their annual charity golf tournament. Prior to her retirement, she was an IT systems analyst for many years at CT Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

She loved to travel abroad, especially to Ireland and through Europe and the Far East with friends and family. Closer to home, she visited New York City often and especially enjoyed Broadway shows, the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and games at Yankee Stadium. She organized fun “boys’ trips” for her grandsons, including the trip to Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame; her granddaughters enjoyed their “girls’ trips,” including a stay on an Amish farm and a day at Hershey Park. Throughout the years, she was a loyal fan cheering on her grandchildren in an array of sports, dance, theater, music, and extracurricular activities.

The family would like to especially thank Mary Pascale, her wonderful aide at the Village at Mariner’s Point, and the entire team who were so dedicated to her care and wellbeing.

Friends and family were invited to a visitation on Nov. 7 at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Nov. 8 at St. John Bosco Parish in St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road, Branford, followed by burial at St. Agnes Cemetery and reception at the Owenego Inn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, 496 Western Highway South, Blauvelt, NY 10913.