Obituary of Helen M. Hannan

Helen Margaret Hannan (nee Hamilton) died March 9, 2023 after a brief illness. Helen was born in the Bronx on November 7th 1929. Her family moved to Staten Island when she was a young girl. That is truly where her adventure began. Growing up on Staten Island, she told tales of sneaking into Snug Harbor to ice skate, only to fall through the pond and have to return home and explain her actions! She also often told the story of sledding down a hilly street and sliding under a moving car! She always seemed to have angels at the ready. Helen attended St. Peter’s Girls High School, where she was often caught wearing fingernail polish on all fingers but her thumbs, so she could turn in her homework, thus avoiding punishment by the nuns. She met her husband, Bob, at a CYO dance and was married in 1952. Her children soon followed, Robert, Irene, and Mary Susan. Along the way, life took many twists and turns, but she always looked life square in the eye and just moved forward – no, wait - she SWAM her way through every obstacle. She rose early every morning to “get her swim in” before work. After the death of her husband, Helen went to work at Chemical Bank. She was fortunate to be able to travel the world. She visited Paris, France, Sydney Australia, and Tokyo, Japan in her role as a Systems Trainer. When she retired, she did not stop. She began a second career as a hospice volunteer and served Pax Christi Hospice for 20 years. She also decided there was a lot more world to see, so she took a cruise through the Panama Canal, cruised through Europe, and cruised the Caribbean. She also took many other trips to Europe and travelled by bus through many countries. Her last big trip was to the Holy Land where she and a friend did many walking tours. Age was just a number! Always having a bathing suit handy, she took a dip in the Dead Sea. Closer to home, she took many bus trips to museums and gardens. Her other passion was the theatre. She loved attending Broadway shows, a love she began as young girl. She also attended the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Met Opera regularly. If there was something happening, she wanted in. During the pandemic, Helen kept busy by reading – and reading – and reading. She also Zoomed regularly with her friends from her many trips and college classes she attended. Helen is pre-deceased by her parents, James F. Hamilton and Elizabeth Hamilton (nee Graham), husband Robert, J Hannan Sr., brothers John and James, sister-in-law Connie Hamilton, brother and sister-in-law Steve and Evelyn Hannan, and longtime companion, Howard Dronne. She is survived and loved by her children, Robert (Regina), Irene (Dieter), and Mary Susan. She is also survived by her cherished cousin, Rita Page Reuss, sister-in-law, Brenda Hamilton and countless adored nieces and nephews and their families. She loved her many friends and neighbors who were truly her family in every way. Her life of 93 years saw many changes in the world. She remembered ice being delivered to her home for the ice box and saw a man walk on the moon. She was always engaged in life and enjoyed it until the very end. She will be forever loved and missed. Cheers to a life well lived! Her funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation: Wednesday March 15th 2:00-4:00 pm and 7:00- 9:00pm at Matthew Funeral Home located at 2508 Victory Blvd. Staten Island, NY 10314. Funeral Mass of the Christian Burial, Thursday March 16th in Holy Family Church at 10:30 AM. 366 Watchogue Road, Staten Island, NY 10314. Interment to follow at Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Tunnel to Towers Foundation at T2T.org.