Mary Hanna

Mary Hanna (nee Vitale) was born to Giuseppe & Mary Vitale in a town called, Terrasini near Palermo, Italy. Mary also had two older siblings, Rosalia and Giovanna that were still living with family in Italy; unfortunately her parents were unable to return them to the United States along with Mary, and Antoinette their oldest daughter until her father became a U.S. citizen. Giuseppe finally became a U.S. citizen and was able to arrange for his two older daughters to come to the U.S. Her first residence was on the West side of Detroit on Fort Street. The home was owned by her fathers sister. She lived there with her parents and her older sister Antoinette. This was a temporary address, they later moved to Elmwood Street, near Mt. Elliott and Vernor Hwy., in Detroit. However during the Depression her father lost the house on Elmwood and moved into a house on Mt. Elliott which they rented. When the economy started to pick up her father was able to buy back the house on Elmwood. Mary lived there until she was a teenager. The family continued to grow and there were eight sisters and one brother. Today Mary has two sisters, Josephine (Anthony) Viviano, Florence (the late Anthony) Marianna, and one brother, Joseph (the late Virginia) Vitale. One memory Mary remembers vividly was when she was 12 years old. Due to the depression her father was not able to give gifts to his family during Christmas. Mary was asked at school to write a letter to Santa, giving her siblings names and ages. Thanks to the Good Fellows her family was able to enjoy Christmas. The girls received a box of candy, a doll and a book, and her brother received a box of candy, a truck and a book. Mary was not able to finish high school and had to leave in her 11th year due to having to find work and help with the family expenses. She worked various jobs, working in a factory assembling airplane parts, also known as one of the Rosie the Riveter girls. Mary also worked for Bommaritos Italian bakery, Strates manufacturing, Bell Telephone, J.L Hudsons and finally Farmer Jack as a deli clerk for 17 years, until she retired in 1984. She met her husband, George Hanna at 22 years old and was married, October 24, 1942. Their first home was on Ashland and Vernor Hwy., from there they moved to Ashland and Essex and finally to Madison Heights. Mary was married to George for 45 years. George passed away, March 24, 1988 at the age of 69. They have five children; Fred (Donna) Hanna, Karen (Jim) Benigni, Mercedes Mullen, Mark (Diane) Hanna, and Elizabeth (Michael) Harris. (One of Mary's son, Fred Hanna, died unexpectedly one week after her death. His obituary can be viewed at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home.) Mary also has 8 grandchildren, Scott Hanna, Jamie (Jenny) Hanna, Michael (Leigh) Benigni, Nicole (Nick) Kolacz, Brittney Harris, Garett Harris, Stephanie (Jim) Jones and the late Tommy Mullen and six great-grandchildren, Sophia Benigni, Sean Benigni, Estella Kolacz, Jack Jones, Hanna Jones, and Cash Kolacz. Mary loved to be surrounded by her family and one of Mary's favorite things to do was reading books. Mary's visitation will be held on Sunday, August 4, 2019 from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road at Masonic (13 1/2 Mile Road) in Warren, Michigan. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:30 pm. She will lie instate Monday, August 5, 2019 from 9:30 am until time of funeral Mass 10:00 am at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, 28353 Herbert, Madison Heights, Michigan. She will be buried next to her husband at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be made to Residential Hospice or to Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

Funeral Home:

A.H. Peters Funeral Home of Warren

32000 Schoenherr Road,

Warren, MI

US 48088