Obituary – Eunice Eileen (Strand) Hansen

Nov. 28, 1930 -- Feb. 10, 2014, Age 83

Eunice Eileen (Strand) Hansen was born Nov. 28, 1930 in Bessemer, Michigan, to John Leonard and Theresa Mary (Bretall) Strand. The Strand family was very active in the community and regularly attended the Salem Lutheran Church, Ironwood, Michigan. At age 16, Eunice moved to Wheaton, Illinois to live with her aunt. During her free time, she enjoyed horseback riding. She graduated from Wheaton College Academy in June 1949. While working as a volunteer for the USO, her hard work was recognized and she was hired as a long-distance operator. She later worked as a receptionist for a carpet installation company, where she met her future husband, Paul Kenneth Hansen, on a blind date. When Pauls family moved to San Bernardino, Paul asked her to move to California and they were married in January 1953. Shortly afterward, the family moved into a small home in Rialto, but when their family started to expand they moved into a larger home in Fontana in 1959, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Eunice was a homemaker, wife, and loving mother. Her hobbies included sewing, reading, yard work (loved her fruit trees), and sightseeing. She proudly completed her Associates Degree from San Bernardino Valley Community College while in her late 50s. She was active in various churches, including Bloomington Church of the Nazarene and Crosspoint Community Church. She was a good friend to the neighborhood families. Paul and Eunice had three children.

Eunice is survived by her brother John William Strand; her sister JoAnn Mattson; step-brother Ronald Kittle Strand; son Charles and daughter-in-law Linda Hansen; daughter Sharon Gibson and daughter Anita Hansen and son-in-law Veon Dillon; her grandchildren David Carmona and wife Misty, Merie Gibson, Phillip Gibson and wife Lynetta, Lauritz Dillon, and Lydia Dillon; and her great-grandchildren Paul Carmona, David Carmona, Damarius Gibson, and Arianna Gibson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Paul; her parents, John and Theresa Strand; her sisters Ruth McBain, June Smith, and Patricia Anderson; and her step-mother Lovida (Olsen-Kittle) Strand.

A private viewing was held at Ingold Funeral Chapel, Fontana, on Feb. 13 and a memorial service was held on Feb. 18 at the Crosspoint Community Church, Fontana. Interment will be at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside.

Submitted by the family historian, Anita Hansen.

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Obituary - Eunice Eileen (Strand) Hansen