TERESA MARY HANSEN

BANGOR – Teresa Mary Hansen, 95, passed away peacefully Jan. 3, 2007, with her loving family at her side at a local hospital. Teresa was born May 10, 1911, in Benedicta, the daughter of Lewis H. and Flora (McDonald) Qualey. She was predeceased in 1981 by her devoted husband, Earl Wescott Hansen. Teresa grew up on a large farm in Benedicta, one of nine children. She attended St. Benedict’s Elementary and High School, and went on to graduate from Presque Isle Normal School, now the University of Maine – Presque Isle, in 1932. She grew up to be a daring and audacious woman, ahead of her time in many ways. As a young woman she lived in Washington, D.C., Boston and New York City, always eager to share the latest fashions with her sisters when she returned to the family farm. Teresa and Earl met in Naples, Maine and were married in 1935. After living for the first year in Naples, they moved to Portland, and then settled in Bangor in 1941. Once all of their children were in school, Teresa returned to teaching. She taught third grade for many years at St. Mary’s Elementary School on First Street, Bangor, and served as vice-principal through the 1970s. An innovative and creative teacher, she was named Maine Catholic Teacher of the Year in 1970. In the 1950s and ’60s, Mrs. Hansen served on the boards of numerous local community organizations, including serving as president of St. Mary’s Sodality, president of St. Mary’s PTA, president of the John Bapst High School Parent’s Association, president of the Bangor-Brewer Central Council of the PTA, chairwoman of the Maine Congress of Parents and Teachers, to name just a few. One of her earliest memories was being with her father at the local general store when news was received that World War I was over. Teresa was generous in sharing stories of her childhood, and often would recall that, as a young girl, she loved to run fast into the wind. It would be years before she slowed down. An accomplished pianist, she could often be found at the center of any family get-together, playing every tune that anyone wanted to sing. In later years, her adventurous spirit took her further around the country and the world. Favorite spots for Earl and Teresa included San Francisco, Paris, Denmark and Great Britain. At the ripe young age of 75, she traveled the length and breath of Ireland, ancestral home of the Qualey family. Few places, however, brought her more enjoyment than a simple walk along the rocky crags of Maine’s seashore. In addition to her kind and gentle husband, Earl, and her parents, Teresa was also predeceased by her brother, Louis Qualey and his wife, Peggy; her sister, Gertrude and her husband, John Conant, Sister Luanus “Agnes” and Marian Savard and her husband, Lorenzo; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Hansen; and brothers-in-law, Kenneth Heskett, Burleigh Hunt and Harold Hansen. She is survived by eight sons and their families, William and his wife, Barbara, of Rye, N.H., John and his wife, Sheila, of Seattle, James of Janesville, Wis., Peter and his wife, Elizabeth, of Bangor, G. Richard and his wife, Carmela, of Holden, Robert and his wife, Angela, of Bangor, Gregory and his wife, Marcia, of Ports-mouth, N.H., and Paul and his wife, Sarah, of Boulder, Colo. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, Mary Hansen Nawrocki and her husband, Jeff, of Kittery, children, Ryker, Rachel, Alexx and Marika; William A. Hansen and his wife, Patti, of Johns Creek, Ga., children, Sean, Nora and Grace; Margaret Dullea and her husband, Robert, of Brentwood, N.H., children, Nathan, Madison and Anna; Joseph and his wife, Tammy, of Gorham, children, Ryan, Taylor and Joseph; and Karen Berrigan and her husband, Larry of Westford, Mass., children, Molly and John; Christopher Hansen and his wife, Victoria, of Orono, children, Darria, Kendra, Arianna and Lexia; Sonja Hansen Sawyer and her son, Cote, of Columbia, S.C.; Kimberly Hansen of Columbia, S.C.; and Shawn Hansen and Alycia Hansen of Seattle; Mark Hansen of Janesville, Wisc. and Brian Hansen of Madison, Wisc., Heather Hansen Blackwell and her husband, David, Jr. “Bill,” of Bangor, children, Peter and Gustav; Stephanie Hansen of New York; Christina Hansen of Merrimack, N.H.; Kathleen Hansen of Rye, N.H.; and Jennifer Hansen of Bangor; Eric, Heidi and Timothy Hansen of Bangor; Catherine, Elizabeth, Alaine, Laura, Melissa and David Hansen of Portsmouth, N.H.; Dane Hansen of Boulder, Colo. Teresa is also survived by her brother, Albert Qualey and his wife, Rowena, of Benedicta; sisters, Rita Qualey and Christina Heskett, both of Portland, Bernadette Hunt of Auburn, Calif.; sister-in-law, Helen Hansen of El Dorado Springs, Mo.; many nieces, nephews and cousins. With a life spanning nine decades, Teresa will be remembered as a strong and spirited woman whose loves included her church, her former students, her poetry and music, often a good book and always a good laugh. But to those who knew her well, there was no greater love for her than being at the center of her large and caring family. At her very core was an unshakeable faith in God. It was the very foundation of her life, and over the course of her 95 years she helped many members of her parish find or renew their lost faith in a just and forgiving God. To paraphrase her beloved St. Francis of Assisi, the Lord made her an instrument of His peace, and in dying she shall awake to His eternal life. The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to the staff of the Phillips-Strickland House, and to the doctors, physician assistants, nurses and staff of St. Joseph Hospital for the love and care they provided to our mother. There is no greater dignity brought to a human life than this kind of unconditional love. Visiting hours will be held 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bangor, with Fr. Scott Mower officiating and Pastor Thomas Lequin, concelebrating. A reception will be held in the parish hall. Gifts in Teresa’s memory may be made to All Saints Catholic School in Bangor. To sign an online guest book, please go to www.BrookingsSmith.com