From the hearts of Starr and Gail:

Thank you for being here today to honor and celebrate the long wonderful life of our Mom.  You are here today because Mom touched you in some way. It could be because you are family, a friend, from the church, volunteered with her or are here to support Starr and me and our families.  Mom turned 95 in May.  Mom would have said she had the best life.  She was extremely healthy except for the past year.  When Dad died in October of 2012 part of Mom went with him.  She always said she was the luckiest woman in the world to be married to Dad, her love.  

Mom's focus in life was her family, her faith and helping others.  Mom was a role model for Starr and Dan, Kevin and me.  Mom was extremely proud of her grandchildrenâ€¦â€¦â€¦.Sean, Sarah, Grant, Kara, Kara, Kelsey, and Kirsten and her great grand-children, Owen and Caleb.  She was thrilled to babysit, attend their sporting activities, dance recitals, graduations and was sorry when she had to miss anything.  Anything that was happening with the family she wanted to be there.

Mom was born on May 21st, 1919.  Mom was the youngest of seven children born to Walter and Blanche Yost.  She lived on the south side of Chicago prior to her marriage.  Mom enlisted in the Women's Army Corp and was stationed in Paris.  Being there may have sparked her interest in travel.   After the war she worked at Rheem Manufacturing where she met Dad.  

After Starr was born, Mom never worked outside the home or never worked for a salary.  Mom never thought of herself as a housewifeâ€”she was a homemaker.  She sometimes threatened to get a job but had no time because of all her volunteer work.  Mom was a Super Volunteer!  She was a Girl Scout leader, PTA volunteer and room mother.  

Her favorite volunteer activity was at Christ Hospital where she volunteered for 48 years.  She was head of the recreational therapy department and walked the halls of the hospital passing out craft items to patients.  She continued to do this even after knee replacement. She silk screened smiley face pillows for pediatric patients, cut out and assembled many different kits to be passed out to patents and sewed baptism bibs for very sick newborns.  In her prime she volunteered at the hospital up to 4 days a week.  She only stayed home from the hospital on her bridge days.  



Mom belonged to numerous bridge groups.  Her best friends were her bridge ladies â€“ Angie, Eleanor and Arlene.   She also bowled and played golf on hospital leagues.  Mom was probably the oldest in her Senior Exercise class.  Mom loved to bake and was a fabulous cook.  Mom always had homemade cookies in the house. If she had nothing planned for the day she would bake.  Many of Starr's and my favorite recipes came from Mom.   She enjoyed entertaining family and friends.  Mom took care of Grandma Studenroth â€“ Dad's mom when she was no longer able to care for herself.   

Mom was very active in her church her whole life with the Ladies Aid and WELCA.  

Mom loved to travel.  She would go anywhere at any time.  When one trip was over she was ready to start planning the next trip.  When Dad was not interested in traveling to Europe, Mom went with a group of hospital volunteers.  She and dad traveled on 11 mystery trips where they never knew where they were going or what they would see.  They had 13 trips with their golf/bridge friends. 

Mom, Starr and I enjoyed many girls' weekend trips.  On these trips to New York or just staying downtown, she loved going to the theater.  She was a trooper.  On one trip to New York our flight home was cancelled due to weather.  We spent the night in the airport.  She snoozed in a chair with her feet on her luggage.  We celebrated many of their anniversaries at Lake Lawn in Wisconsin.  After most trips, Mom created a detailed journal of her travels.  As organized as Mom was she kept a list of her 90+ trips, not including our summers at Powers Lake in Wisconsin.   We have enjoyed reliving most of those trips while reading the journals to her the past year.

Mom was quiet but adventurist.  She went parasailing with me in Mexico.  She went on kayaking excursions in Alaska and Hawaii while on cruises.

Mom's focus in life was all about helping others; at the hospital, at church, helping friends or her top priority, her family.  She was a fabulous role model for Starr and me.  

Mom, we will miss you so much but know you are at peace and with Dad are watching over us.  You are with your love and you couldn't be happier.

Love you, Mom.

I would like to say I was prepared for this, but once I got the phone call I knew I was wrong. Truth is, you can never be prepared to say goodbye to someone like you.  Someone who has had such an impact on so many people, someone I've always looked up to and wanted to be like. 

Thank you for showing everyone what love is, passing down your spirit, serving our country, and proving there is always time in the day to do what is important. I hope that I am adventurous as you are. To say you have been all the places you have been is amazing. And all those mystery trips you took with Grandpaâ€¦ everyone can respect a woman who can pack a bag without knowing where she is going.

I am lucky that I was able to spend almost 21 years with you. But I am just as lucky to have you watch over me and keep our family happy and healthy like I know you will.

One of the last times I got to spend time with Grandma, the whole family went to go visit with her at her nursing home. When we were there I remember Aunt Starr asking her, â€œhow is your day?â€ Grandma responds. â€œIt's perfect nowâ€ She always put family first and taught us that there is never a more perfect day than one spent with family.

You have given all of us endless memories. Filled with endless cookies, endless Catch Phrase, endless kisses, smiles and hugs.

Although we are all grieving down here, we have to feel joy when we think about how happy you must be to be with Grandpa, the love of your life once again. I can only imagine how happy he is to see you again as well.

Grandma, your death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but your love leaves us with memories that nobody can steal. Not a day will go by that we will not think of you. I am forever thankful that I got to call you my Grandma, friend and role model. We love you.

â€¦â€¦..Kelsey Bosman

We are so sad to hear of the news of your mother's passing. Please know that we are lifting you and your family up in prayer. Our deepest sympathy to all of you. We pray that the memories you hold close to your heart will bring you some comfort at this sad time. May your faith sustain you.
In Sympathy and Love from the Sylvan Family

OBITUARY

Mrs. Melba M. Hanisch

May 21, 1919 – July 2, 2014

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services