Focus on Business

Bowling Green and Smiths Grove recently lost the owner and operator of a beloved family-owned funeral home.

But William B. &#8220Bill” Hardy Sr., the former 81-year old owner and operator of Hardy and Son Funeral Homes, was active up until six months before he fell ill, according to his son, Bill Hardy Jr.

Hardy, a Bullitt County native, had been a funeral director for 57 years before he died Jan. 4.

One thing is certain: You can’t be in business for as long as he was and not touch people.

The influence of the behind-the-scenes kind of man who wasn’t hungry for recognition was seen in Smiths Grove earlier this month as the city shut down City Hall in honor of Hardy, among other things.

&#8220Dad was very active,” his son said. &#8220He was still driving the funeral coach before he had his stroke. When my father died, he was at home for two days. And right before he passed away, I leaned down to him and said, ‘Dad, I promise I’ll never make a fool of your business. It was a like a trust that he passed on.”

That also was the sentiment the late Bill Hardy passed on to his father, F.B. Hardy, and it touches on the fragility of family-owned businesses and the importance of family members learning the trade early on.

Hardy Jr. said working in a funeral home was what he wanted to do. His grandfather started the funeral home in 1926 in Smiths Grove.

When the late Bill Hardy came back from serving in the military as a World War II army medic, he went to work for the family funeral home until 1960, when the Duncan Hines home on Louisville Road was bought.

&#8220Once we came to Bowling Green, we added a bigger facility,” Hardy Jr. said.

Since then, the funeral home has seen seven major renovations as the family’s business grew and began to invest more into the community.

&#8220We found out what the people wanted and we tried to expand on that,” he said.

The funeral homes serve about 125 families a year and generally there’s a Hardy on every call.

&#8220We’re just people helping people. We’re not some big conglomerate,” said Hardy Jr., who oversees the staff.

With a staff of about seven people, he reflects on how much the funeral home business has changed.

&#8220Back in the old days, a funeral director did one thing – we bury people. Nowadays, a funeral director does multiple tasks,” he said. &#8220People expect more.”

Last year, the Hardy family celebrated its 80th year of service in the community.

&#8220The secret is, if it’s important to the family, it’s important to us,” Hardy Jr. said.

Online condolences to the Hardy family can be made at http://www.hardyandsonfuneralhomes.com.

– Business reporter Ameerah Cetawayo doesn’t like to miss a story. E-mail her at acetawayo@bgdailynews.com or call 783-3246.