Helen Hunter Hanna

Helen Hunter Hanna of Longmont, Colorado, died peacefully in the company of family and friends on May 17, 2018, two weeks after her 102nd birthday. Born Helen Margaret Hunter, on April 30, 1916 to Reverend J. Norman Hunter and Cora Eissler Hunter in Bakerstown, Pennsylvania, she was one of five sisters. The family moved to Blairsville, Pennsylvania in 1930 and later to Avalon, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from high school with honors in 1936. She was a 1940 honors graduate in Home Economics and English from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Helen was a talented vocalist and violinist and was active in several choirs and choral groups throughout her school and college years, performed in live and radio performances with several quartets in college. She was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota musical sorority. Helen's twin passions were music and teaching and working with young people. After graduation she was a high school teacher in Bellevue, Pennsylvania where she also sang in the Pittsburgh Bach Choir, the Choristers, and was active in local Girl Scout and YWCA chapters. In 1944 she opened her own gift shop in Crafton, Pennsylvania. There she met David Hanna. Helen and Dave were married and moved to San Angelo, Texas in 1948 where their three children, James David, John Hugh and Mary Helen were born. In 1956 the family moved to Boulder, Colorado as the housing industry was booming. Dave worked as a project manager and executive in the housing and mortgage industry. Helen was active in the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir. She devoted time to work with several local organizations supporting special needs children. In 1979 Helen and Dave moved to a new home in Longmont, CO to enjoy retirement and developed many new friendships. After a long-planned trip to Hawaii, Dave died in 1983. Helen continued to be active in church activities and as a volunteer in local elementary schools. She was an enthusiastic sports fan and enjoyed post game recaps with her sister Mary Williams of Boulder. Helen is directly survived by her son Jim in Seattle, Washington and daughter Mary in Greeley, Colorado and her sister Lucille Coonan of Fairport, New York. Helen's last two years were greatly enhanced by caregivers from HomeWatch, Atria Longmont and LifeCare of Longmont and Helen's local community of friends. Their empathy and thoughtfulness were a blessing to Helen and her family is thankful they were part of our lives. Remembrances may be made to TLC Learning Center of Longmont (http://www.learningwithtlc.org). A celebration of Helen's life will be held at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street in Longmont on June 13, 2018 at 2 p.m.