Popular teacher loses fight against cancer

BELOVED-Christine Hardeman, a devoted speech teacher at Chaparrel Elementary School, lost her battle with breast cancer on July 27. Hardeman is shown here with her daughters, Ashley, left, and Caitlin, and her husband, Gary. Christine is remembered fondly for her positive outlook, warm smile and personal strength during her illness. She worked until the end of the school year. By all accounts, Christine Hardeman was an exceptional person.

A beloved and devoted speech teacher at Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas for nine years, Hardeman lost her battle to breast cancer on July 27. More than 300 family, friends and colleagues celebrated her life at a memorial service at St. Maximilian Catholic Church in Westlake Village on Aug. 6.

"She died 38 years from the month of our first date," her husband, Gary Hardeman, said. The Hardemans were married for more than 33 years and have two grown daughters, Caitlin, 21, and Ashley, 24.

Hardeman called his wife "unique," and said although she had only worked in the Las Virgenes Unified School District for nine years, she had a tremendous impact on everybody who knew her, including teachers, administrators, students and parents.

"She was always one of those people who knew the right thing to do and how to do it," Hardeman said. "And she did it with a smile and touched people's hearts in the process."

Hardeman said he was grateful to the many friends, teachers and administrators who offered support to his wife. He said after his wife had used up all her sick days for Friday chemotherapy sessions, colleagues donated their sick days to her.

"Chris worked the whole time up until June," Hardeman said. "She finished the school year."

Helen Bass, a psychologist at Chaparral, remembers Christine Hardeman for her strength, kindness and positive outlook that allowed her to simply carry on with her life and work without many people even knowing she was sick.

"Christine always had the children's interests first and foremost," Bass said. "What made her remarkable was her overall personality-she was exceedingly positive."

Christine, Bass said, was an "outstanding clinician," but her real strength was her ability to unite teachers, parents and students into a solid team, so treatment plans for her students were successful.

"She had so much personal joy working with children," Bass said. "They absolutely loved and adored her. Even with her illness, she was always looking for that particular thing to help a particular child. I still think of her with a smile in my heart."

Hardeman kept her illness private from many people. Bass said her friend's goal was to continue working and spending time with her family and friends. "She was very clear that she didn't want a pity party," Bass said.

Hilary Rushnell, a longtime friend and colleague, said Hardeman had received many awards for her work with children.

Rushnell taught a special education class that was connected to Hardeman's class. "I'd walk in her room and pull the hair off her shoulders to prepare her for meetings," Rushnell said.

She told a story about an "individualized educational plan" meeting that Hardeman had to leave early for a chemotherapy session. The attorney hired by the parents of a special education student lambasted her for ducking out early.

"She didn't respond," Rushnell said. "She was so classy . . . ."

Special education teacher Julie Katz called Hardeman a "great friend and wonderful teaching partner.

"She was fun and she was funny, always finding a way to put a positive spin on our often challenging days," Katz said.

Katz, too, said Hardeman didn't often talk about her illness. "Chris would put up a pot of tea at recess and we would chat about everything and about nothing, but rarely about her cancer," Katz said. "I will truly miss her warm smile, her great attitude and her true friendship."

"When Chris entered a room she brought with her a glow and a cheerful, optimistic outlook," said Mary Schillinger, director of pupil services for the school district.

"Though Chris was bravely battling her cancer, she never showed her pain or lost her enthusiasm for her job. I have had many parents say to me that they had no idea that she was so ill. Chris immediately gained the trust of parents who knew that she genuinely cared about their children."

She "will be sorely missed and her legacy will be that bright smile and positive outlook," Schillinger said.