Terry Donovan Hansen

Terry Donovan Hansen, 86, of Plainville, passed away on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. She was the wife of the late William N. Hansen, with whom she lived with in Maine after retiring. She was born on January 30, 1936, in Terryville, to the late John and Bertha (Tanner) Donovan. She was named Clara Myrtle Theresa Donovan at birth, though as an adult legally changed her name. Our mother lived for many years in Pinellas Park Fl. With her husband, and her step-children. She was a nurses aide at Freedom Square Retirement Home in Seminole, FL, selflessly taking care of those who could no longer care for themselves. She was beloved and respected by her coworkers and those she cared for. In her later years, after the passing of her husband, she moved back to CT to be with her children. She loved playing Bingo Blitz and Webkinz computer games. She was a life long fan of Days of Our Lives soap opera, watching from day 1 till her last day. She loved to collect anything with mice, and had a huge collection. She was quirky, and used to sing silly little made up songs while doing a fun dance around the kitchen while she did cooking or cleaning, or just because she was in a good mood and feeling silly, a habit she has passed on to some of her children. Mom truly loved holidays. For Thanksgiving, she had to have turnip, which her family found was very odorous to cook, so to save her children from the odor, she usually made it at home to bring with her because there was no way it was Thanksgiving without it, though one sister was brave enough to cook it, and for mom we endured the pungent odor. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she loved decorating her home for it. She loved baking all kinds of goodies for it. It wasn't about presents, it was about the spirit of the holiday, the meaning of it, and about being with her family. Her favorite flowers were roses, but she loved receiving bouquets just because. She also loved her rose bushes and bleeding hearts in her garden. She loved lobster and shrimp, organic rhubarb grown by one of her daughters, chocolate covered cherries and lemon meringue pie, and lots of other sweets. Most of all she loved getting together with her children, even if it was just to go grocery shopping. Most weekends she played cards with them, something she always looked forward to. She is survived by her children, Karen Ann Salmon and her husband John C. Salmon of Torrington, CT. Lorraine Mae Was and her husband Bryan Was of SC, Bruce Alan Haag and his wife Cynthia Spinelli of Waterbury, CT and Terri Haag-Cruz and her husband Eric A. Brochu of Meriden, CT also her step-children Joanne Gorey and her husband David Gorey of Burlington NC., William Hansen Jr. of ME, Tina Diaz of CT. Her sister Agnes Bajdziewicz of Oldsmar, FL., and her brothers Ernest Maroon of FL. and Paul Maroon of GA. She also had many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren, step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her dog, Whoopee, with whom she spent her days walking with and greeting friends in her community, and cuddling with her each night to sleep. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by her daughter Linda Susan Gagnon of Wolcott CT, her granddaughter Stacey Mills of Plainville, CT, her great grandson, Bryan Was of Plainville, CT, her brothers William Donovan of FL, Henry Donovan of Plymouth, CT, John Donovan of NY, Gilbert Donovan of ME, and her sisters, Sarah of FL., and Orcel "Cindy" Rachel Chiarappi of Bristol, CT. She will be greatly missed by all. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date private to the family. The Cremation Society of CT in Windsor has care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.CremationCT.com