We regret to announce that Mary Ferlanie Hannum has lost her long fight with cancer at 88 years young. She passed, surrounded by her family. She now joins her long time partner, friend, and husband, Wilmer Hannum. They met as college sweethearts in New Jersey and married in 1953. While Bill served his time in the Navy, she used her science degree to conduct research on childhood cancer for the Jimmy Fund which was later published. Bill and May settled in Stafford Springs, CT. While raising 4 young children she continued her education and was awarded 2 masters degrees in Education. She became an integral part in Stafford’s educational teaching program for 20 years, eventually becoming the Math Coordinator for K-8 grades. A visionary, she was the first to introduce computers to curious students with the new Apple 2 with its floppy disks.
The family enjoyed many summers boating and socializing at their beloved cottage on Malden Island in Five Islands, Maine. Mary broke the mold there where she became the first female president of the Island Home Club. After Bill and Mary retired, the followed the sun and she spent 15 years in Florida where she enjoyed many terrific hobbies with great friends. In 2014 she moved to Oak Crest Retirement Community in Maryland where she again made great friends who have been an amazing support to her.
Her siblings, Florence Cranshaw, and Samual Ferlanie, as well as her sister in law Martha Potter, survive Mary. Her 4 children and spouses, John and Kim Hannum, Cindy and John Rivera, Beth and Bob Jones, and Jill and Charles Anderson, as well as her 9 grandchildren Sam, Julie, Liz, Cat, Jenni, Kari, Marni, Tommy, and Maribeth also survive her. We will miss her laughter, generosity of spirit, and boundless love.
Services will be held at the Oak Crest Retirement Community Chapel on Saturday June 22, 2019 at 1:00p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oak Crest Retirement Community Benevolent Care Fund. Donations can be mailed to Philanthropy Office, Oak Crest, 8800 Walther Blvd, Parkville, MD 21234.