Sydney Paige Hardeman's Obituary
Sydney Paige Hardeman passed away unexpectedly on November 8, 2025, at the age of 25. Born on March 14, 2000, to John & Jamie Hardeman in Dallas, TX, she was a source of joy and light to all who knew her. Sydney accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age and allowed God to lead her path, often sharing scripture with her peers. While we are deeply saddened that she has left her earthly life, we find comfort knowing she is resting in the loving arms of Jesus.
Sydney will be remembered for her brilliant mind, bright personality, and kind, adventurous spirit. She was a dedicated student athlete who always approached life with enthusiasm and determination. She graduated from Allen High School in 2018 and went on to attend St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX on a full academic and athletic scholarship, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2022.
During Sydney’s senior year, she broke the Lady Rattlers’ three-point shot record. She shined on the basketball court, wowing spectators with her knockdown three-pointers. She was excited to receive an invitation to participate in the 2016 USA Basketball Olympic Team Trials in Colorado Springs, CO. Sydney proudly wore the number 23 from the age of five through her collegiate career. Some of Sydney’s happiest moments were spent competing with her friends and teammates, winning several youth national championships, and serving as a four-year varsity and college athlete.
After college, Sydney moved to Austin to work in the IT field while saving for flight school. She cherished living with her beloved grandfather, “Papa,” and visiting often with her maternal grandparents in Round Rock. Sydney treasured her family and friends and shared countless memories with her cousins and brothers, Jay and Blake. She loved to share quality time with artwork, playing games, creating adventures and traveling. Sydney’s love of travel prompted her to become a travel agent in her spare time, and she enjoyed booking wonderful vacations for friends & colleagues through “Travels with Sydney”.
A talented artist, Sydney’s ability to capture her subject with expert detail was astounding. Her art will be treasured immensely. Sydney also had a deep love for music—especially Beyoncé. One of the highlights of her life was attending several of Beyoncé’s concerts, including Coachella, where her joy at seeing her perform was comically captured and featured in the Netflix documentary. Sydney took great joy in arguing with anyone who dared to say that Beyoncé is not the greatest performer of all time.
Sydney met the love of her life, Benjamin Joelson, at a church convention in 2023, and they made the most beautiful couple. They shared so many common interests including their love of God and family, fine cuisine, travel, fitness, karaoke and their Basset Hound, Slinky. They made beautiful memories together and created a bond that will live on forever.
Sydney’s lifelong dream of becoming a pilot came true when she was accepted into United Aviate Academy in Arizona in 2023. She was overjoyed to be selected and later became a recipient of the Sisters of the Skies at United Aviate Academy Scholarship. While at United Aviate, Sydney served as Chapter President of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, representing her flight school with pride. She also envisioned supporting pilots beyond aviation, founding Fly Limitless, an organization dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being among pilots.
After earning her Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot License, Multi-Engine Rating, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFII) ratings, Sydney and her fiancé, Ben, moved back to Dallas, the summer of 2025, where she began working at Stature Aviation as a flight instructor. She often flew over her hometown of Allen and other familiar places, finding immense joy and peace in her work.
Sydney was many things—an intellectual, an artist, a basketball player, a pilot, and Beyoncé’s number one fan—but most of all, she was a beautiful child of God. She studied the Bible deeply, brought others to Christ, and lived as a devoted daughter, protective sister, loyal friend, cherished granddaughter, niece, and cousin. In every role, Sydney was a leader and an inspiration, leaving an impact on everyone she touched, and now she has her wings forever.
Sydney is survived by her loving parents, John and Jamie Hardeman; brothers Jay and Blake of Allen, TX; grandparents Richard and Joan Foster of Round Rock, TX; and her cherished fiancé, Benjamin Joelson of Flower Mound, TX. She will be deeply missed by her Aunt/Godmother Carol Carter and Uncle/Godfather Joseph Carter, Aunt Laura Baggett (Don), Uncle Todd Foster, Uncle John Kuchenbrod; Cousins: Jeffrey Foster (Sabrina), Joshua Baggett (Adriana), Jacob Baggett, Joseph Carter, Lily Cosgrove, and Matthias Kuchenbrod; God-Grandparents Dan and Dianne Schroeder; Lauren Eilers and Linda Hayes, and her village of aunties, uncles, cousins, extended family and many wonderful friends. Sydney was predeceased by her paternal grandparents, John and Gloria Hardeman, and her beloved Aunt Lynn Kuchenbrod.
There will be a family mass celebrating Sydney on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 10:30am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 600 S Jupiter Rd., Richardson, TX 75081. Sydney’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11:00am at ONE Community Church, Lewisville Campus, 2150 State Hwy 121, Lewisville, TX 75067.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support a Minority Aviation Scholarship Fund that has been created in her name for future Black Aviators, along with “Sydney’s Salvation”, a foundation that is currently in the works to support mental health initiatives & suicide prevention for people of all walks of life. Her legacy lives on. https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-sydney-hardeman
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