Born and raised in Attleboro, a daughter of the late Alfred D. and Miriam (Woodward) Hanson, she lived in South Norwalk, CT for 27 years before moving to Scottsdale, AZ and then Vero Beach, FL. Since 1997, she enjoyed her summer residence in Little Compton close to her childhood summer home in Westport.
A graduate of Attleboro High School she earned a B.A. in Art History from Lake Erie College in Ohio. Following graduation she worked in the Development Office of Wheaton College. After raising her two daughters, she was later employed in various retail, interior design and professional fundraising activities.
While living in Connecticut she was heavily involved in volunteer activities, most notably Person-to Person in Darien and the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk for which she briefly served as the Executive Director in its earliest stage.
A woman of many interests: she enjoyed fine art, music, flower arranging, traveling, playing bridge, reading and beach walks. Wendy loved to entertain and will always be remembered as gracious and kind. She was a member of the Acoaxet and Elephant Rock Beach Clubs in Westport. Her first paying job had been working at the beach club at age 15. Wendy was also a member of the Moorings Yacht and Country Club in Vero Beach, FL.
In addition to her husband, Wendy is survived by two daughters: Gay Baker of Bend, OR and Amy Baker Zabele of Furlong, PA and her husband David Zabele; granddaughter, Tess Zabele; sister, Susan Dexter of Westport; nephew, Alex Dexter and niece, Nina Pacheco. Wendy was predeceased by her brother, David Hanson.
Contributions may be made in her honor to Southcoast VNA to support their Hospice & Palliative Care Program, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719; or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60611.
A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, August 29 at 11:00am in the United Congregational Church of Little Compton, 1 Commons, Little Compton, RI. For tributes and directions, www.waring-sullivan.com
