Louise (Ryan) Hanson – 90, of North Reading and formerly of Yarmouthport, MA, died at Royal Meadow View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in North Reading on Saturday, November 28, 2020.
Born in Wakefield, MA on May 31, 1930, she was the wife of the late Richard N. Hanson and daughter of the late Everett R. and Alice (Rattray) Ryan. She was the sister of Carolyn (Ryan) Fuller of Peabody and the late Doris (Ryan) Pedersen.
Louise attended Wakefield schools and graduated from Wakefield High School in 1948.
Known as the “Story Hour Lady” at Flint Memorial Library in North Reading for 35 years , she instilled a love of books and reading in hundreds of children over the years.
A grandmother of 8 and great-grandmother of 11 she made great fruit pancakes which they still remember fondly, taught them how to knit, braided their hair beautifully (so tight!) and loved to cook for them. She loved family gatherings and cooking and baking.
She and her husband Dick loved to travel and especially enjoyed Bermuda and many sailing trips in the Caribbean. They camped with their family for many years with a large group of North Reading people at Terrace Pines in New Hampshire.
After many years in North Reading, they retired to Yarmouthport, MA where they made many more wonderful friends. Having been very active in their church life at the Union Congregational Church here in North Reading, they joined the West Yarmouth Church where they happily immersed themselves in their new church life.
Over the years Louise was active in Girl Scouts and Eastern Star.
Her surviving family members include her daughter, Nancy (Hanson) Thorn and husband William of North Reading; her son Douglas Hanson and wife Lori of Sandown, New Hampshire. Eight grandchildren, Karen (Thorn) Putvinski & husband Mathew of Holliston, MA; Alison (Thorn) Bogrett & husband Richard of Haverhill, MA; Amy Thorn of North Reading; Kristina (Hanson) Wagnitz & husband Tony of Atkinson, New Hampshire; Jaclyn (Hanson) Freeman & husband Dan of Plaistow, New Hampshire; Joshua (Hanson) Stone and husband Jonathan of Flagstaff, New Mexico; Mindy (Hanson) Moutoux and husband Nate of Pataskala, OH and Daniel Hanson & husband Lance Guthrie of McLean, VA.
She had 11 great-grandchildren: Katelyn, Megan & Erin Putvinski; Abigail Thorn; Lexi & Libby Wagnitz; Ryan, Lily & Sam Freeman; Isaac & Madeleine Moutoux.
A memorial service will be held in the spring. Interment will be at Puritan Lawn.
Memorial donations may be made to the West Yarmouth Church, 383 MA-28 West, Yarmouth, MA 02673; Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864; or Flint Memorial Library, 147 Park Street, North Reading, MA 01864. www.croswellfuneralhome.com
My condolences to the family. I have fond memories of Mrs. Hanson at the Flint Memorial Library in my youth.
So sorry for your loss Nancy.
Sorrry for your loss.
Condolences to Nancy, Doug and Family. Louise was a big part of our life growing up. From Union Congregational Church to Terrace Pines Campground. My Mom would call her her personal Librarian.
I am so sorry to read this, I have wonderful memories of your mom and dad growing up on Foley Drive. My sincere condolences. Geri (McQuaid) Farrelly
Nancy, so sorry to hear of the loss of Your Mom. She was a wonderful wonderful woman. Always a kind and thoughtful person. My condolences to your entire family.
So very sorry for your loss Nancy.
So sorry for your loss. I loved story hour. She brought the love of books to myself and many others.
So sorry for you and your family’s loss Nancy. I remember your mom and dad well❤️
Sorry to hear of moms passing Nancy and family
My Condolences To The Family God Bless You At This Difficult Time
Very sorry to hear of your loss, Nancy. I remember your mother well and always loved her smile. My sincere condolences to your family.
Condolences from the Baxter Family on your loss. We are reminded of the happy days at Terrace Pines
Sorry for the lost of a wonderful woman. I remember riding my bike to the library. She was the story lady for many many years everyone in North Reading knew and loved her God Bless
Such a wonderful woman always know to us as the story book lady.
Sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom Nancy. My condolences to you and Bill and your extended family.
My condolences to the Hanson family. I have fond Eames St. and Congregational Church memories of you all, Nancy.
So very sorry to hear this news. Louise was a very big part of our early memories living in North Reading and bring my kiddos to story hour. She always greeted the kids by name and made them feel at home. We were blessed to know her. RIP Louise
Nancy, Doug and all grandchildren, and great-grandchildren please accept my condolences to you all. Louise was my second cousin. Her mother, Alice and my grandmother, Ruby, were
sisters. Louise and Elinor Coggin baby-sat me while the rest of the Wakefield clan went to a family wedding. Louise was one of the mildest persons, like her mother, that I have ever known. I have fond memories of Christmas Eve gatherings with the Ryans, and all of the Rattray clan in Greenwood.
My grandmother, told me that Louise did not speak as a child, and they were quite worried about her. One day, mother Alice was upstairs and Louise came to the bottom of the stairs
and yelled, ” hey, Mom, have you got money for the paperboy?”
Love to you all, Paul Francis