Mildred E. Hanson
“Millie, Sis, Auntie”
Hollis, Maine - Mildred Elinor Hanson passed peacefully into the arms of her beloved Savior at sunrise on February 24, 2023 at Springbrook Center in Westbrook. She was born on February 7, 1934 at “The Brick House” atop Pleasant Hill Road in Hollis as the eldest child and only daughter of J. Ansel and Evelyn Haley Hanson, followed by an annual succession of four little brothers.
Millie was baptized in 1951 and became a member of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church next door. She served as church clerk, treasurer, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, assisted at Vacation Bible Schools, and played the organ for over 60 years. There was not a hymn she didn’t know! Her volunteer services also included Faith at Work Conferences, Hollis High School Alumni, Sunshine Club of Hollis, area blood mobiles and the Town of Hollis as Election Ballot Clerk.
Millie graduated from Hollis High School in 1952 and Gray’s Business School in Portland. She was a bookkeeper for Star Markets in Massachusetts and was Office Manager at Westbrook Spinning Company for 22 years. Upon her retirement, she worked at Your Country Store in Hollis with longtime friend Sylvia Smith. Always one to keep her hands busy, Millie crocheted thousands of bookworm bookmarks for people of all ages and volunteered at Ruth’s Renewable Resources in Scarborough.
Like her brothers, “Sis” looked forward to any outing if riding in a car. You would often find her with friends and family at her favorite restaurant, Tory Hill Café, where she was a jovial member of the “Harry’s Harem” luncheon group. Her long-distance trips included a cross-country drive to Alaska with her friend Betty Upham, many trips to Pennsylvania Dutch Country with her niece Martha, and a fun trip to Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula with Maggie Nichols Emmons. She had fond memories of her “Johnson Girls Trip” in Tootsie’s Winnebago, as well. No matter how far she traveled, she was always ready to return home “for a good game of cribbage”! Visits to the family cottages at Pine Point and Little Ossipee Lake were always treasured. She treated her nieces, nephews, and greats to many excursions to Storyland, concerts and plays, the Nutcracker ballet and hockey games-and she never missed a wedding, graduation party, baby shower or other celebration.
Millie was dedicated to serving her Lord and was always caring for someone. On Friday she was reunited with her dear friends and family; her “Auntie” Mildred Woodbury, Rev. Miss Holman, Adena Smith, Bev Harriman, Bev St. Michael and Vivian Trueworthy. She is pre-deceased by niece Debra Silver and nephew Thomas Ansel Hanson, along with sisters-in-law Charlene, Donna, Gloria, Leona, Avis and Nellie Hanson.
“Sis” is survived by her four devoted brothers and their companions: Frank Hanson, George Hanson and Maggie Emmons, Paul Hanson and Joan O’Neill, and Robert (Bob) Hanson and Willie Whitten.
“Auntie Sis” is survived by four nieces: Martha (Harlan) Huff, Rebecca (Larry) Bowley, Donna Marie Hanson and Nancy (Dan) Hogan, all of Hollis. Nephews include Philip Hanson of Buxton, Daniel (Patricia) Hanson, Scott Hanson (Laurie Cressey) and Robert Hanson Jr. (Heather Meserve) of Hollis and Ellis Hanson (David Stoll) of New York.
Grandnieces and nephews include Alex Silver of Springvale, Christie (Jason) Fournier of Pennsylvania, Jerry Hanson of Biddeford, Robert Matthew Hanson of Gorham, Loren (Rob) Dow of Vermont, Brook Bowley (Megan Hetzel), Brandon Hogan, Chad Young, Merydeth (Adam) Charlton and Amanda (Christopher) Graham of Hollis.
Great Grandnieces and nephews include Willow St. Clair, Elyana Graham and Layla Hanson. Great Grandnephews include Gavin (USMC), Ethan and Aiden Fournier, Ryker Stiffler, Connor and Sawyer Charlton, and Hanson Dow and one Great Great Grandnephew, Roman Fournier.
Millie’s big, quick grin and bountiful hugs will be missed by a host of friends, neighbors and her extended family of Haley and Harmon cousins. The family would like to thank all those who helped care for Auntie in her later years and ‘the little ones’ who twirled, danced, sang, recited, sat on her lap and entertained her immensely. Special thanks go to Carol Meserve, Garry Johnson, Sherry Dobson and the dedicated staff members at Sable Lodge, where she frequented last year with brother Paul, and Biddeford Estates and Springbrook Center who always appreciated her sweet singing.
A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 10 AM at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Hollis, followed by a luncheon with vanilla ice cream “like we used to make with Auntie” and a family cribbage tournament.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to China Lake Camp, Scholarship Fund, 255 Neck Road, China ME 04358 or the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church-Good Shepherd Fund, 80 Pleasant Hill Road, Hollis Center ME 04042.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com