Molly Joy Hathaway Hargy, a lifelong resident of Edgartown, died unexpectedly on Monday, Feb. 20. She was 55.

She was born on May 31, 1967 in Oak Bluffs to Lewis and Judith Hathaway. She spent her childhood playing basketball and causing trouble with her friends on the Island before graduating from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School in 1985.

Her education then brought her to Nichols College for one year before she decided to see more of the world and make her way into the hospitality industry. She spent time in Atlantic City and Florida where she met Chris, the love of her life, who was a chef at the restaurant where she worked. It didn’t take long for the two to fall in love and Molly brought Chris back to her Island home. They settled on the Vineyard and worked together in different establishments as chef and front of house extraordinaires.

They welcomed their first daughter, April, in April of 1994 and then married in the front yard of Molly’s childhood home on Oct. 18, 1994. Their daughter Samantha followed in September of 1997.

Molly loved working with her husband. They spent many years together at The Daggett House when the girls were young. They lived for a brief time in Rindge, N.H., where they owned and operated Casey J’s Restaurant. Upon returning back to the Vineyard, she had many different occupations, including some wonderful years as assistant manager at The Edgartown Inn, working in the kitchen at the Edgartown School and as an exterminator for Griggs & Browne.

After Chris died in 2012, Molly found joy in her daughters and loved to travel to visit them. She often spoke of her and Samantha’s trip to Ecuador in 2018 and she hoped to go back again. She made sure to be at April’s house in Philadelphia when her first grandchild, Owen Christopher, was brought home from the hospital. Owen was a true light in her life and she looked forward to every time he was able to visit her on the Island. In between visits, they shared regular FaceTime calls where Owen enjoyed the opportunity to look at Peanut, Molly’s 17-year old dog.

Molly is survived by her two daughters April Hargy Fligor and her husband William, and Samantha Hargy; her grandson Owen Fligor and a granddaughter who will arrive in spring 2023); her mother Judith Hathaway; her sisters, Karen Hathaway Ames and her husband Mark, and Wendy Hathaway; her dog Peanut; and many other family members, friends and neighbors.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Christopher in 2012; her father Lewis Hathaway in 2003; and her companion Eddie the dog in 2022.

She was a friend to all and a staple in her neighborhood. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and Peanut.

Visitation with family and friends will be held at Chapman Funerals & Cremations in Oak Bluffs on Saturday, March 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A celebration of her life will follow at  the American Legion in Katama following the service, please bring a dish to share.