ELEANOR HANSON

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ELEANOR HANSON 1924 - 2014 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Eleanor Hanson, age 90, at the Charleswood Care Centre on September 1, 2014. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother she leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Janice Tennant (Jim), son Bruce Hanson (Deb Brown), grandchildren Trevor Tennant (Misa), Meredith Tennant Thoendel, Melissa Tennant, Cori Hanson (Dan Goodwin), and Julia Hanson and five great-grandchildren, Tyler, Taya, and Chase Thoendel, and Annika and Silver Tennant. She was predeceased by her loving husband of almost 64 years, Stan Hanson on May 30, 2012. Born and raised in the Weston area of Winnipeg, she was the only child of Anna and Hugo Parnitzky. She graduated from Cecil Rhodes School and then Business College. She began taking accordion lessons as a young girl and became an accomplished musician with the accordion and in later years the organ. During the war years she travelled throughout the Prairies and Ontario with the Four Accordion Maids performing in many venues entertaining our troops. She also taught accordion and worked as a receptionist following the war. She met her husband Stan Hanson when he returned from the war and they were married in Winnipeg in 1948. Together they raised their two children, Janice and Bruce, in their home on Downing Street in the west end. They built a cottage at Twin Beaches on Lake Manitoba where many family memories were made. Summer weekends were spent playing on the beach during the day and playing cards around the table in the evenings. She and Stan also took yearly vacations travelling with their children and Eleanor's mother to California, Hawaii, Mexico, Texas, Florida and the Caribbean. After the children were grown Stan took an early retirement allowing them to spend more time together. They continued to travel with her mom and best friends the Bradshaws. This "group of seven" managed to visit England, Germany, Barbados, Australia, New Zealand -the list goes on. In the 1970s Stan and Eleanor purchased their own snow bird nest in Pinellas Park, Florida where they spent many wonderful winters. Throughout all this time they shared a love of dancing. They did many kinds of dancing including line dancing which they did for more than the last 20 years. When they sold their Florida home they spent their winters back in Winnipeg dancing three times a week at the St. James No. 4 Legion. Eleanor danced into her late 80s. She and Stan enjoyed many activities with their grandchildren and Eleanor could often be found dancing with her little great-granddaughters. During her long and happy life she made many friends everywhere they lived and travelled. She was a kind and gentle person who tried to please everyone she knew. She always had an amazing sense of humor and could make you laugh with her stories and impromptu comments. After Stan's passing Eleanor took up residence in the Charleswood Care Centre where she has resided for almost two and a half years. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff who took such loving care of her, from the nurses and aides who assisted with her personal care to the amazing recreational staff who kept her busy with activities, sing alongs and outings. Also our thanks to the caring companions from Comforts of Home Care who spent every evening visiting her. When Eleanor was anxious or confused someone was always there to try to involve her in an activity and to make her laugh. Even the housekeeping staff always stopped to talk and joke with her in the halls. Following a private family burial, a funeral service celebrating her life will be held on Monday, September 8 at Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Blvd. at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 6 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB, R3L 0K6 or the Alzheimer Society, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 4G2. "Your life was a blessing your memory a treasure... You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure..." NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 06, 2014