Obituary of Alida Hansen

Alida Hansen, 92, of Fredericton, NB, passed away peacefully Friday, December 3, 2021 at Thomas Hall, Shannex. Born in Baie-Ste-Anne, NB, she was the daughter of the late Cyrice and Barbara (Duplessis) Chiasson. Alida was a woman of quiet strength and resilience. As a young woman, before completing even a high school education, she taught children barely younger than herself in a one-room schoolhouse, and later worked as a hospital lab technician. After marrying her beloved Olie, she raised a family of five children with love, kindness, and infinite patience despite the frequent upheavals of RCAF transfers, always making a home even in cramped PMQs and on small, isolated radar bases. Once her family had grown, she surprised everyone by focusing on her own personal growth – completing her GED, studying German, mastering knitting and crocheting, and late in life becoming a wonderful painter, demonstrating an unexpected and stunning artistic talent she had always kept hidden. She particularly enjoyed painting those she loved, especially her grandchildren. She also enjoyed life as a "snowbird" until Olie’s passing, when she forged a new independent life in Fredericton, facing a series of physical traumas late in life with courage and strength. She is survived by her daughters, Donna Hansen (Ken Wetzel), of Ottawa, Denise Hansen (Barry Gaul), of Halifax, and Janice Hansen (Jim Theodorlis), of Toronto; sons, Ken (Anne), of Ottawa, Garry (Beth), of Fredericton; sister Aldea Hachey, of Chatham, NB and brother Gerry Chiasson, of Bridgewater, NS. She loved and was loved by her grandchildren, Lisa, Jennifer, Lauren, Leah, Gina, Kevin, Brian, Nina, and Madeline, and her great-grandchildren, Henry, Veronica, Adeline, Jeremy, Nora, June and Tess. Alida was predeceased by her husband, Olaf; infant son, Brian; sisters Stella and Therese ("Dodette"); brothers Tim, Emile, and Edmond; half-brothers Lawrence and Donald; and half-sister Leonie. A service will be held in Chatham, NB at a later date, with interment in St. Michael’s Cemetery. For those who wish, donations in Alida’s memory may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.