Joan Hanna

JOAN MARIE HANNA

1930 - 2012

Our dear aunt and friend, Joan Marie Hanna , passed away December 22, 2012 in Salt Lake Cit y . Born August 8, 1930 to Edward Ettner and Elsie Guse in Belv i dere, Illinois , she grew up in the nearby town of Marengo , west of Chicago. Marengo was a " home town", a small community where everyone knew each other as friends or family. In Joan's early years, one of her best friends was her cousin, Robert Dunker, as their mothers were identical twin sisters who lived across the street from each other . One of Joan ' s first jobs was as a local soda jerk .

After graduating from Marengo High School, Joan married Earl Kranz. They were later divorced. She then ventured to Chicago where she worked as a secretary. She married John B . Hanna April 25, 1959, and they lived in LaGrange Park , Illinois for 25 years while they were both employed by the Veterans Administration at Hines, Illinois. Joan was Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Data Processing Center . Joan and John remained close to Joan's family , often making the trip back to Marengo to visit on Sunday afternoons. During these years , they spent their vacations in Salt Lake City with John's family. These fun-filled vacations included fishing trips to lakes in the Uinta Mountains and Flaming Gorge and were eagerly anticipated by her niece, Carolyn, and her nephew , Allan. Joan became a special friend to Carolyn and Allan , and they often visited Joan and John at their home in Illinois during summer vacations from school.

In 1984 , Joan and John retired to Salt Lake City. In Salt Lake, they developed many new friendships as they became ardent supporters of the arts. It was typical for them to hold season tickets to the Utah S y mphony , Ballet West, Utah Opera , the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Festival Opera in Logan, and many local theater groups . Joan became known as the family "social secretary" for her willingness to organize and obtain tickets to a variety of events for friends and family. In addition , Joan and John loved to see the world, travelling throughout the United States , to Europe, Scandinavia , Asia, and Tahiti, and visiting Alaska and Hawaii many times.

A member of several book clubs, Joan was a voracious reader who built a vast library . She was a loving, generous person who made friends easily and often hosted the family Thanksgiving and Christmas parties . We will miss you , Auntie Joan!

Joan is survived by her husband John , brother-in-law Earl B . (Maude) Jones , niece Carolyn Jones, nephew Allan B . (Natalie) Jones, Allan ' s sons , great-nephews Brandon B. Jones and Spencer B . Jones , and her cats Abner and Daisy. She is also survived by many extended family members in Illinois . She was preceded in death by her parents, sister - in-law Marilyn H . Jones, and nephew E. Blair Jones . Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 27, 2012, 12:00 noon at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E. Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.)  A visitation will be held Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at the Cannon Mortuary, 2460 E.  Bengal Blvd. (7600 S.) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the day of the service one half hour prior to the funeral.  Interment at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Onl ine condolences www.cannonmortuary.com