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Neil Hanson Obituary
He was the beloved husband of Lisa M. (DeFrancesco) Hanson.
He was born in Arlington, May 20, 1958, son of Marion A. (Engebretson) Hanson of Bedford, and the late Neil B. Hanson Sr. He graduated from Bedford High School. He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Mr. Hanson served in the Army National Guard, attaining the rank of sergeant.
Prior to his illness, Mr. Hanson worked as a manager for a field service company.
He was a member of the Chelmsford Hockey Association.
Besides his wife and mother, he survived by four children, Nicholas E., Christopher C., Matthew N., and Samantha M. Hanson, all of Chelmsford; a sister and brother-in-law, Kristen L. and Hal Cummings of Lunenburg; a brother and sister-in-law, Kyle R. and Kim Hanson of Sandwich; his mother-in-law, Carol DeFrancesco of Lincoln; his godchildren, Courtney Cummings and Courtney DeFrancesco.
He also leaves a brother-in-law and his wife, Charles and Debra DeFrancesco of Lincoln; two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Mary Ann and Robert Bates of Lexington, and Gina and Gary Fournier of Leominster; and several nieces and nephews.
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Memories and Condolences
for Neil Hanson
MaryLou Nutting
March 1, 2007
What a huge loss for your family. I am so sorry. I used to work with Neil at SMS and am glad that I had the pleasure to know him.
Denise Dunbar
February 25, 2007
David and I moved here 14 years ago. We were hesitant to enroll Kyle into the "learn to skate" program. We ended up joining in and that was our opportunity to get to know the Hanson family. Thank you Neil for being an outstanding part of this community. May your family be blessed with the wonderful memories that you have created. Our community was a good place to be because of wonderful and devoted people like yourself. You will be greatly missed. Our prayers and thoughts are with your family. Fondly, Denise, David, Kyle and Lyndsey Dunbar
Linda Mullen
February 25, 2007
To Lisa and Family,
We were so very sorry to hear of your husband's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time.
Linda, Joe and Michael Mullen
Mary Catherine Alcaro Garcia
February 23, 2007
Lisa, I was so saddened to hear about Neil. I remember his smile and laugh and his loyalty to all the sports teams, especially The Patriots! I haven't seen you in a long while, but the closeness we all shared when we were little, still remains within my heart and always will. Even though I do not know your children very well, I know how they feel.Though its been a long time, (I was 17 )since my Father died, I remember all the feelings as if it was just yesterday. If your children have any special school functions coming up,and feel bad about Neil not being there, tell them what I was told, "He WILL be there and he will have the best seat in the house!" Well, it made me feel better.Remember, Neil won't be far away, He's your guardian angel now and will be watching over you and your children always. Even though we are miles apart my family is never far from my heart, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Mary Catherine
Dana Zawada
February 22, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time. Neil was that rare type of person who strived to make things better for others rather than himself. We have all truley suffered a loss.
Jo-Anne Campbell Nolan
February 21, 2007
My deepest sympathies on your loss.
Jo-Anne Campbell Nolan
BHS Class of 76
Eric Chaney
February 21, 2007
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Janet Fuller
February 21, 2007
To the Hanson family from the Fuller family, our deepest sympathy & condolences go out to all of you. Gary will surely miss all the phone calls and emails from Neil trying to schedule refs; and of course we'll always remember all the fun times & fond memories in the rinks and the away tournaments as well. Very sorry for your loss, Neil will truly be missed by all. God Bless, Janet, Gary, Matt & Mike
Robert D'Auria
February 21, 2007
Mr.Hanson you will be sorely missed by both myself and my family. I will never forget the days when you and my dad coached my younger brother, myself and many of my other lifelong friends over at chelmsford forum. My dad and uncles have told me all the stories of their time growing up with you in Bedford and how much of a true friend you were to the family. You will be missed.
Joanne O'Brien
February 21, 2007
Dear Lisa, Nick, Chris, Matt and Sam,
Our hearts go out to you and our prayers are with you. Neil really touched our lives. Jamie's interest in hockey really took off with Neil as her first coach. When he became ill and could no longer coach we really felt the loss and was grateful whenever he could make it to the rink. We are very thankful for all of his efforts in driving the girls program in Chelmsford. He will always remain in our thoughts and our hearts. Thanks for sharing him with us.
Love, Paul, Joanne, Jamie and Paul Jr. O'Brien
Pam and Frank Anastasi
February 21, 2007
Dear Lisa and Family,
Neil will always be remembered as the caring person who dedicated his time to CHA and who taught most of Chelmsford to skate. He made lessons fun, and the infamous "superman slides" will always be remembered as the most fun by the kids. We have lost a good friend and a true leader.
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
The King Family
February 21, 2007
Lisa, Sam, Matt, Nick & Chris,
Your loss is beyond the scope of words. Know that Neil will forever live on, not only through his own children but the hundreds of kids whose lives he touched on the ice. His presence will always be felt upon walking through the rink doors.
Shannon, Chris, Mike and Nick
Bob Atwood&Family
February 21, 2007
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Chelsey Tewell
February 20, 2007
Dear Sam and family:
May you find comfort in the loving memories of your Dad. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Brad & Linda Gilbreth
February 20, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hanson's. Neil will be in our hearts and our thoughts.
Brad,Linda, Amy & Derek Gilbreth
Amanda, Deb and Bill Mahoney
February 20, 2007
Dear Lisa, Nick, Chris, Matt and Sam.
Neil has touched our lives in many ways and for that we will never forget him. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
John Fairbanks
February 20, 2007
Dear Lisa, Nick, Chris, Matt and Sam,
My family wish you the strength and courage as you face this difficult time. Have faith that the ice is always fresh, the skates are always sharp and the puck goes where you want it to in hockey heaven.
The Fairbanks family.
Lori (Livermore) Hack
February 20, 2007
Dear Lisa, Nick, Chris, Matt and Sam,
No matter how well you try to prepare yourself, you are never fully prepared to lose someone so young and loved. I feel blessed to have grown up so closely with Neil as one of his cousins. And, because our family is so small and closely knit, our time together was more often than not on a weekly basis. I remember the first summer when my sister, Karen, and I spent a few weeks living with our cousins while our mom was having knee surgery. I was probably about 8 years old and terrified of thunderstorms. One night there was a storm, and since I was sharing the room with Neil and Kyle, I remember getting into Neil's bed and him holding me so I wouldn't be afraid. My other fond memories from that same summer are building cities in their sandbox with the matchbox cars and trucks, and tagging along to play soldiers with Neil, Kyle and the neighborhood boys. They weren't too crazy about the idea, but they let me do it anyway! I will be forever grateful that Neil was able to attend my wedding in September 2006, even though he was feeling so sick, and see me get married to Bruce Hack. He will leave a void in our family, but his spirit will remain with us forever. With love, Lori
Maureen and Gary Dudek
February 20, 2007
We were very saddened to hear the news of Neil's passing over the weekend. Our prayers are with you all during this especially difficult time. Neil touched the hearts of many and he will be greated missed. For many, he will be remembered as the man who made it fun for a whole generation of kids to lace up their skates. He even made falling fun with his infamous "superman slide." His love of hockey spread to parents as well- he introduced my husband to coaching five years ago and he's been hooked ever since. We are fortunate to have had Neil and Lisa as neighbors and have enjoyed their company whether it was watching our kids at the rink or ballfield or over a cold beer listening to vintage Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was a fun-loving family man who always had his heart in the right place...he has a place in our hearts, too, and we will miss him terribly.
Ronnie & Kathy Cincotta
February 20, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers to the Hanson Family during this sad and difficult time. Neil will be greatly missed.
February 19, 2007
Our lives are saddened by the news of Neil's passing. He touched our lives in so many ways. On the ice, he was a great instructor who taught my 3 sons how to skate, how to play and love the game of hockey. Off the ice, he was a true friend. Over the years, I have enjoyed the many hours spent with Lisa and Neil sitting in the stands together and watching our children play hockey. We were truly blessed to have known Neil. To Lisa, Nick, Chris, Matt and Sam - our thoughts and prayers are with you.
The Mui's - John, Kathy, Brandon, Justin and Corey (Chelmsford, MA)
Gary McGurin
February 19, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. Neil will be greatly missed by all that were blessed to have known him. Gary, Kim, Jessica, & Michael McGurin
Linda (Salvato) and Steve Gould
February 19, 2007
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. Our memories of loved ones help us in our grief. Although it's been quite awhile since we've been together, you have always been in our thoughts.
Mark Poisson
February 19, 2007
Dear Hanson Family,
Please accept my families deepest condolences. We only knew Neil a very short time while he taught my son and 25 other small children to skate some 8 years ago and as I teach my 4 year old daughter to skate the memories of Neil showing my son to skate appear very strong! I was hoping to send my daughter to the "learn to Skate program" and have Neil teach her also. The town of Chelmsford has lost a very special person.
Lisa Salvato-Cushing
February 19, 2007
I would like to express my condolences to Lisa and her family. I remeber Lisa and Neil from earlier years and they were a wonderful, loving pair. With the love of their children, Neil's memory will be always alive within.
John Guiney
February 19, 2007
Chris - My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
Alan Hamer
February 19, 2007
Neil was a true inspiration and dedicated Husband & Father not only within his own family, but the Chelmsford Hockey family as well. His guidance and influence on molding youth hockey within the town will be missed. He was a role model not just for me, but countless others that served with him and under him in the Chelmsford Hockey Association. Our thoughts are with Lisa, Sam, Nick, Chris & Matt and his immediate family, our hope is to let them know that their extended family's thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of great sadness and loss.
Kimberly Hanson
February 19, 2007
Who could ask for a better brother, brother in-law or uncle. Watching Neil and his wife Lisa together was magical. So much love in their eyes for each other, always laughing and enjoying each other. He will be missed by all of us daily in so many ways. Our family will never be the same. Love from Kyle, Kim, Brooke, Julia, Owen, Cole and Ryan Hanson
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