LORNA VIOLA HANSON (DRENNAR)

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LORNA VIOLA HANSON (nee DRENNAR) September 17, 1922 - March 14, 2008 With her family by her side, Lorna Hanson passed away peacefully at the age of 85 years at Extendicare/Oakview Place after a lengthy illness. Lorna was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Poplar Grove, Saskatchewan and Teulon, Manitoba with her parents, Reta and William Drennar, sisters, Edith and Doris, and brother Garnet. She moved back to Winnipeg with her parents and brother after she graduated from high school at the top of her class. She was always a beautiful singer who learned to play the piano by ear and performed with Harold Green entertaining the troops returning to Winnipeg during the Second World War. She was working at Zellers at the time she first met her future husband, Orville Hanson, whom she wed in 1947. They raised their children on Ingersoll and then Woodlawn Street with 12 great summers spent at the family cottage at Matlock Beach next door to her brother and his family. Mom never cared about material possessions and her family was the focus of her entire life. She was always very proud of her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a spiritual person who attended and taught Sunday School at Deer Lodge United Church when her family was young. She instilled her love of music, her belief in education, and her sense of humour in all of her children. When her kids reached an age where they were somewhat independent, Mom started working at Eatons. She spent 16 years behind the candy counter - much to the delight of her family who enjoyed it whenever Mom brought her work home with her. In later life she volunteered for many years along side her sister Doris in helping to take personal care home residents for outings. Mom was a walking advertisement for staying out of the sun. Her skin was flawless even in her later years giving her the last laugh on those of us who teased her for sitting in the shade under her large brimmed hat at the beach. It turned out she wasn't kidding when every year on her birthday, her answer to the inevitable question was: "twenty-nine going on twenty-eight!" Lorna will be remembered by her husband Orville, her children, Judy Shields, Bill Hanson (Cathy), Russ Hanson (Cindy), her grandchildren, Shannon Shields, Rob Shields, Jessica Hanson, Marcia Hanson, Kyla Hanson, Gillian Hanson, Brooke Hanson, Michael Hanson, her brother Garnet and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Edith Wanag and Doris Boyd and her son-in-law Robert Shields. The family would like to thank the staff at Extendicare/Oakview Place for making Mom's stay as comfortable as possible. We thank everyone for their kind thoughts about Mom. A private family interment will take place at Chapel Lawn at a later time. For those who so desire, in lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Lorna's memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. CHAPEL LAWN 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 19, 2008