Esther M. Hardiek, 96, passed away peacefully at 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at her home in Teutopolis. She was surrounded by her family at her passing.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Teutopolis, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church with a 4:30 p.m. Council of Catholic Women rosary and a 6 p.m. parish wake service. Bauer Funeral Home, Teutopolis, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mrs. Hardiek was born July 20, 1914, in Teutopolis, the daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Siemer) Schultz. She married Richard A. "Dick" Hardiek on Oct. 5, 1946. He died in 2001.

She was a homemaker and member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Teutopolis, St. Francis Council of Catholic Women, Third Order of St. Francis and lifetime member of St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital auxiliary.

Surviving are her daughter, Tess (husband, Ron) Probst of Teutopolis; four grandchildren, Richard (wife, Leslie) Probst, Christopher (wife, Debi) Probst, Timothy (wife, Meagan) Probst, all of Teutopolis, and Lori (husband, Eric) Hamilton of Marietta, Ga.; 10 great-grandchildren, Jackson, Collin, Chloe, Nevie, Joey, Avery, Evan and Mark Probst, all of Teutopolis, and Charlie and Declan Hamilton of Marietta, Ga.; and two sisters-in-law, Marian Schultz of Teutopolis and Violet Schultz of Leland, N.C.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Mark; three brothers, August, Arthur and John; and three sisters, Helen Runde, Martha Hauser and Alberta Schultz.