Yolanda P. Hansen

Yolanda P. Hansen
March 28, 1929 - October 23, 2024
Yolanda was born in Passaic NJ, to Gennaro and Dora Pellegrino on March 28, 1929. She grew up in Passaic with her two brothers and her sister, and was a 1947 graduate of Passaic High School. She graduated from Newark State Teachers College (now Kean University) in 1951.
In 1952, she married Alfred J Hansen and they had two sons, Kenneth and Gerald. During their journey together Yo and Al resided in Belleville, Passaic, Rochelle Park, Paramus and eventually in Cedar Grove. They also had a second home in Middletown Springs, VT so they could spend more time with their son Gerald and his family.
Yolanda was an elementary school teacher (primarily kindergarten and first grade.) She began her teaching career in Passaic and then spent 30 year in Rochelle Park. In 1989 she received the New Jersey Governors Teachers Recognition award.
Yo enjoyed entertaining and socializing. She and Al had a large and diverse group of friends from their childhood, work experience, neighbors and especially the residents of Holly Lane that cared so much for Yolanda in her later years. She always tried to keep in touch with all her friends and relatives.
Yo loved to travel and see the world. She and Al travelled extensively around the globe so that Yo could complete her "bucket list", which included the snow covered domes of St Basils, the locks of the Panama Canal, the pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, flying on the Concord, and traveling on the Orient Express. They made it to five of the seven continents.
Yolanda was a volunteer at The Depot in Midland Park for over 25 years. She was also a member of the NJ chapter of the OCA and in 2007 was awarded the OCA-NJ Unsung Hero Award in recognition of her dedication to the chapter. When the school in Middletown Springs was short staffed, Yo volunteered to help out. She was active in the church and was a member of the St Catherine's Altar Guild until covid struck.
Yo was pre-deceased by her husband Al and her younger son Gerald. She is survived by her son Kenneth (Barbara), daughter-in-law Rita, grandchildren Lisa (Eric Olsen), Lori (Felix Ortega), Katherine (Jon Fishkin), Ryan (Alyssa), Jennifer (Chris Durocher), and Scott (Abby). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Meghan, Luke, Lars, Kinsley, Sophia, Jackson and Finn as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Shooks Funeral Hone, 486 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at St. Catherine of Siena https://scscedargrove.org/, 339 Pompton Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ at 10:30 am. The family asks that in lieu of flowers; consider giving a gift to the charity of your choice.