HANSEN, Margaret (Peggy)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Tuesday, February 18, 2014 Margaret "Peggy" Hansen, 88, of Chino Valley, Ariz., joined her beloved husband Jack and her family in Heaven on Feb. 15, 2014, in Prescott, Ariz. Peggy was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Sept. 2, 1925 to Richard Joseph and Loretta Veronica Kenny. Mom was a very loving soul who was very proud of her pure Irish heritage, being part of the "greatest generation," and being from New York (she was part of the crowd in Times Square the day the War ended); she was also a devout Catholic and raised her children up with the same beliefs. In 1941, a young man met a beautiful Irish girl at the local "5 and Dime" in Brooklyn, N.Y. He always said with tears in his eyes that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen with her strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. Whenever he stopped in on his way home from the night shift at the Navy Shipyard, he would tip her a quarter for a 15-cent meal. World War II broke out and he was called to duty. She moved and they lost contact. It was during the autumn of 1948 that destiny brought them together and they bumped into each other on a subway in New York. They were married Jan. 30, 1949 and spent the next 47 years as inseparable soul mates. When he came down with Alzheimer's disease, she nursed him at home for as long as possible then drove to the nursing home in Sedona everyday from Chino Valley so she could feed him his lunch and hold him in her arms. During these visits she talked about the old days and he listened intently. He seemed to forget most everyone, but when she walked into a room, he would put his arms out to her and his eyes would light up. She always said that "he knows I belong to him." On Feb. 15, 1996, God called him home with her sitting right next to his bed holding his hand. On the morning of Feb. 15, 2014, 18 years to the day, my dad came and took my mother home. We truly believe this was dad's way of saying, "I have her with me now and she is pain free and happy." Although our hearts are aching, we are comforted by their love story and knowing they are beginning their eternal life together. Someday we will all be together again. There was a scene in an old movie called the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. At the end of the movie, the lady rests her old tired body in a chair and passes away. The love of her life comes in and stretches out his arms and up rises the beautiful vibrant young woman she once was and she leaves the old feeble body behind. Together they walk off into the sunrise. Mom always said that she hoped dad would come and get her like that ... he did. Mom was the heart of the family who loved the many gatherings around the kitchen table sipping coffee and sharing memories. She was a wonderful cook who showed her love with elaborate meals prepared for her family especially during the holidays. Mom took pride in her children and grandchildren, always making each and every one feel special and safe when held in her arms. Peggy was a nurse who spent years working at Pilgrim State Hospital in New York and then became the Yavapai County Tuberculosis Control nurse after moving to Prescott in 1970. She worked under the guidance of Dr. Clarence Yount. She spent the decade traveling the county, caring for patients from all walks of life; she retired in 1980. Peggy is survived by her son John Hansen of Black Canyon City; daughters, Patty (Gabe) Martinez and Mary (Jerry) Ruddock, both of Chino Valley; grandchildren, Dena (Shane) Shatzer, Sandy (Jim) Kelley, Jennifer (Brandon) Calkins, Angela (Ryan Calkins) Martinez, Kristy Forward and James (Jessica) Peters. Mom had a special love for her grandson through marriage, Jesse Andujo. Great grandchildren were Shana Shatzer, Gracey Kelley, Dakota Shatzer, Alexia Andujo, Drake Kelly, Lucy Hansen, Gabriella Andujo and Nova Peters; nieces and nephews, Laura (Burt) Maas, Richard Repko and Michael Repko, all of Pennsylvania; Robert (Stella) Repko of Long Island, N.Y., Pam (John) Helsh and Diane (Ed) Bryant of Colorado. She comes from a very large New York Irish Catholic family and is also survived by numerous cousins whom she loved very much. She was predeceased by her husband Jack; grandson John Hansen Jr.; daughter-in-law Roberta Hansen; and sisters Helen Repko and Ronnie Kenny. A viewing is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at Heritage Memory Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be at Saint Catherine Labouré Church in Chino Valley at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. A graveside service will be on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at the National Memorial Cemetery in Cave Creek. Mom you are forever in our hearts and we look forward to the day when we can all sit together and sip coffee with you and the whole family. Kiss dad for us. We love and miss you. Information provided by survivors.