Mary Hardy (Peifer)

Mary Hardy (Peifer), 88, passed away on July 14, 2025, at Country Meadows Retirement Community in Frederick, Maryland. She was born on August 17, 1936, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest of four daughters to William and Anna (Mulvaney) Hardy.

Mary enjoyed a long and accomplished career, retiring in 1996 as the Gaithersburg Branch Manager of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Widely respected within the MVA community, she was known for her leadership and wisdom.

A devoted dog lover and passionate Philadelphia sports fan—especially of the Eagles—Mary raised her family in Lebanon, PA before relocating to Rockville, Maryland in the late 1960s. In 1986, she moved to Monrovia, MD, and later retired to Bethany Beach, Delaware in 1998, where she lived until 2021. She then returned to Frederick, Maryland to be closer to her family. Mary was a strong, independent single mother of three children whom she loved deeply.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Catherine Clark and Elizabeth Emerson, as well as her son, John (Jack) Peifer. She is survived by her children, Eileen Gellerman and Timothy Peifer (Mary Beth), along with her grandchildren: Matthew Pembleton (Shannon), Michael Pembleton, Daniel Gellerman, Mary Kate Gellerman, Timothy M. Peifer (Kelsey), Christopher Peifer (Jillian), Nicholas Peifer (Becca), Christine Peifer, and Elizabeth Peifer. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Callie, TJ, Jack, and Emma Peifer, and by her eldest sister, Anne Vossenberg.

A service of remembrance will be held at St. Ann’s Church in Bethany Beach, Delaware on August 7, 2025, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. A private burial for immediate family will take place afterward at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, Delaware.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Mary’s memory may make a contribution to Country Meadows via credit card at: www.CountryMeadows.com/Donate. Or by check payable to “Country Meadows Co-Worker Foundation”. Address: Country Meadows Retirement Communities, ATTN: Co-Worker Foundation, 830 Cherry Drive, Hershey, PA 17033.