Deborah A. Hardy

Deborah A Hardy, 75, of Fayetteville, passed away April 6, 2026. Deborah was born in New York, New York on February 16, 1951 to Nicholas and Ruth Hardy. Deborah retired from Ameriprise Co. where she had been an Office Manager.

She was preceded in death by parents, Nicholas Hardy and Ruth Stoman Hardy.

Deborah has been a long time participant and supporter of SAGE Upstate. She started the Knitting and Fiber Arts group as a monthly gathering -- soon it was meeting every week, and it met like that for more than 15 years. The people in the group were family -- they celebrated birthdays, reached out when someone was in need, gave each other rides, and most of all talked and laughed deeply. They knitted and crocheted too. She touched many lives at SAGE.

Deborah was a founding member of the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus (SGLC), which began in 1991. She held many Board positions (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) as well as being Chair of many of the Committees within the chorus. The chorus has been involved with GALA choruses as well.There has not been a project, preformance, rehearsal or meeting Deborah missed. Weather she was greeting new chorus members or you were a returning member, Deborah always made sure that you were comfortable and that you knew you were in a safe space. Growing the LGBTQ+ community was very important to her. She would go out of the way to make sure that through SGLC, we continued to welcome anyone into the chorus.She always had a smile that was welcoming and an ear if needed. Still to this day, Deborah is referred to as the mother of the chorus. She even came up with a recipe for what is well known as.” chorus cake.” Deborah will be missed very much.

Deborah is survived by her Spouse, Vivian Derrickson,

Family and friends may call on Friday, April 24, 2026 from 11:00 am-12:00 pm at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 705 N. Main St. with a service following.

Burial will follow in Fayetteville Cemetery.

To share a memory of Deborah or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.