Obituary of Mary Irene HANSON

HANSON, Irene February 12, 1922 – February 21, 2012. Born in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan to English immigrant parents, Irene spent her childhood in that area, and on farms near Wildwood and Mayerthorpe, Alberta. She subsequently attended the Olds School of Agriculture and qualified as a teacher and returned to school later in life to earn her Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary. Education was her lifelong professional passion and it was a teaching job that first brought her to Strathmore in 1948. This was where she would live for the rest of her life teaching a significant portion of local residents over many decades first from her home economics lab and later from her grade two classroom. A farm in the Namaka district was the homebase from which she and Roland, her husband for more than 50 years, raised their five children. They also contributed actively to community life including, among many other endeavors, membership in the Wheatland Whirlers Square Dance Club and the Strathmore United Church. Irene led a joyful and vibrant life to the end – dancing last summer at the wedding of her first grandchild to get married, and celebrating her ninetieth birthday with 100+ well wishers earlier this month – before passing away peacefully at the Sagewood seniors’ residence in Strathmore. She was predeceased by brothers Frank, Bob and Keith Langdale; sister Alena (Babe) Hodgins; husband Roland; son-in-law John Lammers; and first-born grandchild Jason Lammers. She is survived and remembered with great love and affection by her children and their spouses Lynda Rolene and Jack Wysseier of Bienne, Switzerland; Cherylyn Hanson of Stony Plain, Alberta; Dale and Vikki Hanson of Strathmore; Donna Hanson and Jamie Honey of Doha, Qatar; and Kevin Hanson and Amin Sunderji of Toronto. She is also survived by grandchildren Kelly Wysseier (Thierry Steiner), Kim Wysseier (Babak Farzaneh), Carly Wysseier, Karen Wisheu (Adam Wisheu), Jill Hanson (Josh Graham), Eric Hanson, and Lauren Honey; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family offers their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lori Lobay, and to the staff at the Wheatland Lodge, the Sagewood Care Centre and Strathmore Hospital, whose caring competence made such a difference in Irene’s life over her final years. A celebration of Irene’s life will be held on Monday, February 27, 2012 at Strathmore United Church at 2:00 p.m. To send condolences, please visit www.wheatlandfuneralhome.ca. WHEATLAND FUNERAL HOME LTD. (Strathmore) in care of arrangements. 403-934-5666 Send Condolences