On December 21, 1933, Mary Josephine was born. Because it was so close to Christmas, she was named for the earthly parents of the man whose life she would forever emulate and follow. The first 9 years of her life were hard and unkind; and when her mother passed away, she and her little brother, Tom, were sent to an orphanage where she was later adopted by Edgar & Helen Richey. Upon realizing how much she missed her brother, they surprised her by adopting him too.

Mary Jo developed a lifelong love of learning at an early age. You could always find her getting lost in a book. She attended Greenville College and later got her master's degree from Indiana State University and it was no surprise that she became a librarian at West Side Middle School in Elkhart, IN where she remained until she retired. Even after retirement, she continued to share her love of books with the Light and Life Park Free Methodist community in Lakeland, FL by expanding and managing their library until her death. She was a charter member of the Meadowood Free Methodist Church where she played both piano and organ and served on the official board until she retired. Her love of learning included the joy of travel and experiencing and learning from other cultures - Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Panama, Russia, and Canada. Her travel also took her throughout the United States exploring Native American reservations on an Eli Lilly grant.

While at Greenville, she met and later married Gerald Rardin in 1954. They later divorced but remained good friends until her passing.

Her greatest love was for her three children who she showered with unending love and affection. Her home was home to anyone in need - families, friends of her kids who needed somewhere to stay because they were orphans, pregnant with nowhere to go, homeless; the least of these as the Bible calls them. And one day she became Nana and loved it so much, she spent the rest of her life as everyone's nana. She loved and adored her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and everyone who called her nana.

She gave to Native American children on reservations, homeless missions in Chicago, water missions in Haiti, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities - anywhere she saw a need that wasn't being met. She lived her life by a John Wesley quote she wrote in her Bible. It says, "Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can. "

And all the days of her life she fiercely loved Jesus, her children, grandchildren, family, friends, and people she didn't even know. She believed it is not our job to judge each other; rather, we are called to love our neighbors no matter what - the color of their skin, their religion, their sexual orientation or gender identity, or their status in life - and that's exactly what she did until 8:52 pm, August 5, when she was greeted by a parade of angels, family, and friends who lined the streets of gold to welcome her home.

She is survived by her children, Teresa Rardin; Anita Hemmingsen; Jeff (Wanda) Rardin; Mark Sharp "adopted" son; her grandchildren, April L. Booze (Ryan Lewis); Dorian (David) Hazelwood; Aubrey (Brian) Cook; Meghan (Dan) Hauser; Jeremy (Jonna) Becraft; Melony (Mike) Andrews; Raquel Curtis (Jason); Ross Sharp (Lourdes); Erika Sharp (Devin Grose); Owen Sharp; her brother, Tom (Angie) Richey; sister-in-law Imogene Hussick, niece Alexandra Richey, nephew Gregg Richey; 24 great-grandchildren, and many friends. She was proceeded in death by her loving parents Ed and Helen Richey; brothers Johnny and Franklin and sister Sarah and "adopted" daughter Bev Sharp.

Our lives were forever blessed because you were part of it. We don't know how to live without you, but we will try to be more like you, Mom.

Although the family has chosen to have a private burial and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  This obituary will be updated with the details when they are planned.

In honor of Mary please consider donating to Olive Branch Mission at 6310 S. Claremont Ave,  ​Chicago, Illinois 60636 or obmission.org/ or Center for Enriched Living at 280 Saunders Road Riverwoods, Illinois 60015 or centerforenrichedliving.org/ or to the Free Methodist International Child Care Ministries at 770 N. High School Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46214 or childcareministries.org/

Live by her mantra Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can!