Barbara M. (Rice) Hanson

Barbara M. Hanson, 85

North Brookfield - Barbara M. (Rice) Hanson, 85, died Thursday, October 27, 2016 at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.

She leaves her husband of 66 years, Stanley F. Hanson; two sons, Robert S. Hanson and his wife Terri of Henderson, CO, and Richard M. Hanson and his wife Kathy of North Brookfield; four daughters, June Klem and her husband Mike of New Braintree, Linda Zalauskas of Chelmsford,

Rebecca Dasho and her husband Dennis of Paxton; and Christina Close and her husband Thomas of Barre; one brother, Stanley Rice, Jr. of Greenville, SC; Three sisters, Doris Ford of Victorville, CA, Alice Langevin of Dudley, and Cecelia Tanski of NC; ten grandchildren, Joshua and Robert Hanson, Jessica Bettencourt, Laura Madison, Marcia Miller, Holly Simeone, Lori Severino, Jennifer Page, Kaitlyn Arrington, and Thomas Close; nine great-grandchildren, Ashley, Olivia, Rylan, Colt, Ava, Arianna, Korbin, Kimberly, and Robert.  She was predeceased by her brother, Raymond Rice, her sister, Mary Rice, and her infant daughter, Carol Hanson.  Barbara was born in Ware, daughter of the late Stanley and Mildred (Gascou) Rice, and was a life-long resident of North Brookfield. 

Mrs. Hanson was a homemaker in her own home, and also went back to nursing school in her early forties to earn her license as a Licensed Practical Nurse.  She worked at the former Coventry Hall Nursing Home in Spencer, and the Quaboag Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center in West Brookfield before retiring in 1995.

Barbara was a long-time member of Christ Episcopal Church in North Brookfield.  She enjoyed going on trips with the Shriners of Melha Temple in Springfield, and camping across the country with several family camping groups.  Along with Stanley, she visited 48 states in the country.  She enjoyed outings and the holidays with family and friends, and truly treasured the time spent with her grandchildren – all of whom she took care of at one time or another. 

A Memorial Service for Barbara will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at 11:00AM in the Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, 133 North Main St., North Brookfield.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the North Brookfield Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 73, North Brookfield, MA 01535 or the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.  Varnum Funeral Home, Inc., 43 East Main St., West Brookfield is assisting her family with arrangements.

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