Nancy Jean Hannak

Nancy Jean Hannak passed away on March 18th, 2025.
Jean went to work when she was first married, "for six months, till things got a little easier." She retired three decades later.
There are so many ways to be a strong woman in this world and the world was not short on challenges for her. She rose to those challenges so many times.
Jean worked her entire adult life at Indiana Regional Medical Center. After being passed over for promotion several times because she lacked a college degree, she eventually made manager of admissions without it. She did it the "hard way."
Jean raised three wildly willful children who gave daily challenges. She met those as well. Cooking dinner every night after or before working an eight-hour shift. She found time to do the deep cleaning chores once a month. She also canned and froze everything her husband grew in the backyard. If you haven't spent hours in an air conditionless kitchen on a muggy August day with a pressure cooker spitting steam, you might not know what the "hard way" means.
She also, somehow, found time to be an active volunteer in the local credit union. She and a few dedicated folks helped build the Indiana Federal Credit Union into what it is today. If you haven't spent an entire day stuffing envelopes in a musty basement of a retirement home, you might not know the "hard way." Jean was there for her family, always. She was a rock that often-robbed Peter to pay Paul, and sometimes robbed Peter and still couldn't pay Paul. If you never hid the burden of not having enough money for your family, you may not know what the "hard way" means.
There were struggles and there were struggles, but her home was also filled with love. She was kind to a fault. She did not hesitate to help in emergencies. If she had two dollars to her name, you had two dollars with Jean. She told everyone who came to her house "If you starve it is your fault because you know where the food is." She had a big laugh and always remembered the silly and goofy moments. She was happiest when the neighbor kids came to play at her house, even happier if she could cook and bake for them. If you were not a mom to an entire town's kids, you may not know the "hard way."Jean did the "hard way" not out of choice, but out of necessity and will. She did the "hard way," in so many directions and talking to her, you might never know this. Jean has earned her rest ten times over. She will be missed and forever loved.
Jean was survived by her loving daughter Dianne Hannak grandchildren Kathryn and Christopher (Norris) Son, James (Donna) and granddaughter Emily Hannak, Son, Joseph Van Hannak (Jennifer,) and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother Martha father Herman, brother William Reasinger two sisters Linda Baker and Kathryn Moody, and husband Peter of 53 years.
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