Obituary of Helen Waldron Hanson

Helen Marie Hanson (nee Waldron) died at home in Maplewood on December 6, 2015. Born in Newark, NJ on July 16, 1922, Helen Marie grew up in East Orange, NJ. She was the oldest daughter of William and Helen Waldron and graduated from both the Academy and College of St. Elizabeth. Helen Marie and her husband, Joseph E. (Pete) Hanson Jr., married in 1943 and raised their eight children in Allenhurst and South Orange. She was an active volunteer at her children's school, Our Lady of Sorrows in South Orange, and was instrumental in creating the school library. After her children were grown, Helen Marie worked at the South Orange Public Library and volunteered at Overlook Hospital's medical library. She was also very active in the alumnae associations of her alma maters. Helen Marie was predeceased by her husband in 1999, her son Joseph (Patrick) in 1989 and her two brothers, William and Thomas. She leaves her seven children and their spouses – Robert (Cathy) of Mountainside, NJ; John (Dena) of Far Hills, NJ; Jane (Patrick Shrout) of Montclair, NJ; Marie of Reading, MA; Margaret (Greg Payeur) of Raymond, ME; Sarah of Orange, NJ; and Helen (Paul Dewey) of Medfield, MA; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; her two sisters, Ann Stuart and Mary Jane Waldron; and sister-in-law Mary Lee Waldron, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Viewing will be on Friday, December 11th from 3:00-7:00 PM at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church, 50 Short Hills Ave, Short Hills on Saturday December 12th at 10 a.m. with burial at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery to follow. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Academy or College of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, NJ or the charity of your choice.