Carla Hansen

HANSEN, CARLA CHRISTINE died at her home, on May 19, surrounded by loving family. Her death came two years after her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer, and one year after her marriage to Gigi DiBello, her partner of 24 years. Last week at their home, they witnessed the commitment ceremony of their daughter, Zoe Marika Hansen-DiBello to her fiancé Jake Gamache and the graduation ceremony of their daughter Francesca Rina Hansen-DiBello from the Tisch School at NYU. Born in Madison, Wisconsin on November 15, 1946, Carla was the eldest child of Dr. Robert Schilling, a well-known research physician, and the late Mariam Alan Hansen Schilling. She is also survived by her stepmother, Marilyn Jean Carbon Schilling, her siblings, Robert Frederick Schilling (Sheryl Miller), Fredericka Alan Schilling (Bonita Sitter), Richard Arthur Schilling (Rose Jameson), and Anne Bollard Schilling (Ken Sloan), her parents-in-law Alba and Patrick DiBello and sister-in-law Alyssa Diz (Carlos Diz), and nieces and nephews Robin, Michael, Rachel, Andrea, Dana, Antonio and Isabella. Carla graduated from University of Wisconsin where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work. She practiced for over 40 years, touching many lives in the process. Carla worked in areas of adoption, sex education, sexual assault and domestic violence, and was a well-respected psychotherapist in the Providence area. Carla was also an Associate Dean of Student Life and the Graduate School at Brown University where she counseled and mentored countless students. While her professional accomplishments were remarkable, her personal attributes were extraordinary. Carla was renowned for making the most routine interaction an intimate encounter. She had a tremendous capacity for friendship and love, and a talent for recognizing and applauding the unique strengths of each person. Carla created grace and beauty around her, and the home she built with Gigi was a welcoming sanctuary for so many. Most important to Carla were her partner and children. Carla first became a mother to Zoe, at 40, through adoption, making a true circle with her own work with adoptive families. Gigi became a part of their lives when Zoe was three and gave birth to Francesca two years later. The entire family was legally united in 1993 when Carla and Gigi set legal precedent in Rhode Island and became the first lesbian partners to co-adopt their children. The family will receive visitors on Thursday, May 22, from 3-7pm and again on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 from 11am 2pm and from 5-8 pm at their home in Cranston. A celebration of Carla's life will be held on Tuesday, May 27 at the First Unitarian Church, 1 Benevolent Street at 10 AM. Donations in her memory may be made to Brown University Oncology Group, Grow Education at The Marion Institute or Sophia Academy.