***PLEASE BE ADVISED-DUE TO THE THURSDAY FEB. 9 SNOWSTORM, THE SERVICES FOR MR. WAYNE ARTHUR HANSEN HAVE BEEN MOVED TO FRIDAY FEB. 10 AND ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Funeral Mass at St. John Chrysostom Church, 4750 Washington St. West Roxbury on Friday Feb. 10 at 10AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours and interment private.***
Hansen, Wayne Arthur of Hull, formerly of Jamaica Plain and Norwood. Passed away suddenly after a brief illness, February 2, 2017. Devoted father of Kiersten Barry and her husband Patrick of Norwood and Jonathan Hansen of Hull. Loving grandfather of Joseph Barry. Brother of Paul Hansen of Whitman, Janice Kleinbauer of Stratham, NH and the late Maureen Keohane and Christine Knopp. Son of the late Walter and Maryanne (Mulligan) Hansen. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral Mass at St. John Chrysostom Church, 4750 Washington St. West Roxbury on Friday Feb. 10 at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours and interment private. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Wayne’s memory to The Columban Fathers, 65 Ferry Rd. Bristol, RI 02809.
The following was written by Wayne in August of 2009:
“My own dad was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. My mother was born in County Mayo, Ireland. My dad was a painter. My mother was a full time, full fledged housewife and mother. Before she was married, when she first came to the states from Ireland, she was a live-in Nanny for the then Mayor of Boston.
My son says I need to discuss accomplishments. Oh no.
I was born in Hobart, Indiana, in a Walton's style house, with a store we ran beneath where we lived. I later lived in the Virgin Islands, in the south of Cuba, at St. Thomas, where I was one of the team of nine Theology students who taught in the high school and colleges, and developed a new Parish in Tutu.
As a Priest, from 1969 to 1972, worked in the inner city with minority groups, services for the gay community in Kenmore Square, and met with minority leaders like Hughy Newton, former head of the Black Panther movement in the 1970's, discussing peaceful movements for growth and change within the black community.
I started five non-profit agencies, which were later given to the individual towns in which they were located, and are all still flourishing today, 30 plus years later. More recently, I was the Executive Director in the 90's of an assisted living residence.
Music has always been a big part of our family as well. My sister, Jana, was signed to a major recording contract in the 60's, but opted out of her contract after recording only one CD to focus on school. She is, however, still singing today. I also achieved over 100 Championship wins in Irish Step dancing.
One of my fondest memories was sneaking down stairs on Christmas Eve, as a child, and seeing in the living room my mother sitting on my father's lap, as they surveyed the gifts they had prepared for us for Christmas morning, which took enormous sacrifice and love for us, during a rough time for my parents, who were providing for five children.
Nothing in my past or future will ever compare to the joy and fun I've shared with my kids, as they journeyed through childhood.”
My dad had an infectious smile and warm soul, leaving his mark on so many people throughout his seventy-seven years. It was a gift to come upon this piece he wrote eight years ago, as he was rarely one to discuss his accomplishments he just quietly went about doing whatever he could to help people.
I will never forget one evening when he took my brother and I to Fanuiel Hall and saw a homeless man sitting on the corner. My dad reached in his pocket and realized he only had a fifty dollar bill but without hesitation he leaned down to the man and said, “Please take this and may God bless you.” That was just how he was, always giving of himself to others.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has shown their love and support to our dad throughout his life. We would also like to offer our heartfelt appreciation to all who have been there for us and our family during this most difficult time.
Much love, Kiersten and Jonathan
And as my dad would say
“God bless you.”