Hazel Hansen

Hazel Marguerite Hansen, age 88, of Greenville, passed away Saturday morning, March 31, 2012 at Spectrum Health-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. The daughter of Edward Charles & Lena Maude (Cramer) Smith, she was born on Nov. 20, 1923 in Belding. Following her graduation from Greenville High School in 1942, she worked at the former Gibson Refrigerator Company helping build gliders for the war effort. On May 23, 1947, she married Joseph Norton Hansen at the parsonage of the First Congregational Church in Greenville. Together they enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage and raised two children. After her children were older, Hazel worked part-time at the downtown J.C. Penney store and later returned to full-time at Gibson's, retiring at the age of 62. Hazel was very proud of her Native American heritage and was an elder in the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians... participating in a variety of tribal activities. She was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church, and enjoyed basket weaving, gardening, and garage sales. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph N. Hansen on Feb. 2, 2007; and by their son, Thomas Joseph Hansen on April 4, 2011; and seven brothers and sisters, Glenn Gould, Helen Gould, Dale Gould, Gertrude Wood, George Gould, Chuck Smith, and Evelyn Smith. Surviving are her daughter, Cindy Hansen of Ormond Beach, Fla.; a sister, Mabel Gender of Lansing; a brother, Capt. Lou Smith of Huntington Beach, Calf. grandchildren, Joseph & Tina Hansen of Knoxville, Tennessee, Jacob Hansen of Midland, James Hansen of Alma, and Madeleline Hansen McSwain of Ormond Beach, Fla.; five great grandchildren, Taylor Hansen, Alek Hansen, Victoria Hansen, Sophia Hansen, and Thomas Hansen; special family friend, Sharon McSwain of Ormond Beach, Fla.; and nieces and nephews, Terri & Scott Luce, Jill & Marty Engel, Nancy Gender, Sharon & David McCabe, Donna Schaible, and Tim & Lynn Smith. Visitation is Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Christiansen Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, with the vigil service beginning at 8:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at St. Charles Catholic Church, Greenville, with Father Michael F. Cilibraise presiding. Burial will take place privately at Rest Haven Memory Gardens, Belding. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Hazel Hansen, please visit our flower store.