Anna Nilsine Hansen

1938 - 2017

Anna Nilsine (Nilsson) Hansen

December 11, 1938

August 30, 2017

After a long and courageous journey with lung cancer (non-smoker), Nilsine Hansen died peacefully at home on August 30, 2017, surrounded by family. She was born on December 11, 1938 in Portland, Oregon. Her early years were spent in Texas and Eastern Oregon before moving to Reno, Nevada with her parents in 1946. Nilsine attended Reno High School and graduated in 1957. After high school, she attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA and was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega fraternity. She majored in Speech Language Pathology and returned home to Reno after graduation to begin her life long career of working with and advocating for children with special needs. Upon returning to Reno, Nilsine took a job with Washoe County School District and worked at 8 different schools in Sparks as a Speech Language Pathologist. She would then move on to teach the Hearing Impaired program at Veterans Memorial and Corbett Elementary schools. She obtained a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Nevada and eventually transitioned to administration in 1976 where she would remain until her retirement in 1990. Retirement did not stop Nilsine from continuing to work in the field. While she was 'retired' she worked as a Hearing Officer for cases between families and districts for all Nevada students outside of Washoe County. She would hold this role until her battle with cancer became more of the focus of her daily life in 2015.

Nilsine met her husband, Skip Hansen, during their time at Reno High School. They were married in 1963 at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Reno. Their daughter Kate was born in 1981. Together, the two have been very active members of the Reno community. As long time members of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Reno, Nevada, Nilsine spent her time singing in the choir and playing hand bells, served as an Elder of the church, and expressed her creativity as the 'Craft Lady' for St. John's Resident Church Summer Camp for many years. She enjoyed spending time honing her craft as a calligrapher; sewing, reading a good book and watching the waves roll in during family trips to the Oregon Coast. Both Skip and Nilsine were devout attendees of Chautauqua and other various arts/concert series in the area including Reno Chamber Orchestra and Bella Voce. Later in life, she became an active member of P.E.O, Nevada Chapter F, and served as President among other active roles in the group. Other highlights of her life include singing at Carnegie Hall with the Sierra Nevada Master Chorale, discovering traditions of her heritage through involvement with Sons of Norway and playing her accordion on TV with Greco's Revue where she would later be remembered in the Reno Gazette as the 'girl with the dancing eyes'.

Nilsine was adopted by Nils and Birdie Nilsson in 1939. After the birth of her daughter Kate, she became an active member of ALMA. It was with the support and guidance of the group that Nilsine was able to locate her birth family in 1993. Since then, she has enjoyed a very rewarding and special bond with her sister Nancy. The two have discovered some quirky similarities and enjoyed many "sister trips". She considers the day she found her birth family as one of the luckiest days in her life.

Nilsine was preceded in death by her parents, Nils and Birdie Nilsson and is survived by her husband Skip Hansen, daughter, Kate Hansen (Jon Finch), sister Nancy Espinoza (Richard), niece Megan Espinoza and nephew Matthew Espinoza (Jeanette).

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. John's Presbyterian Church in Reno on September 16, 2017 at 2 pm with reception to follow. Her family would like to encourage people to wear colorful attire or accents to celebrate a life well lived.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider donating to the following programs:

Arts for All Nevada (www.artsforallnevada.org) for their Arts and Special Education program.

Donations will help fund art workshops in 55 special education classrooms, 33 schools in Washoe and Carson City school districts for students who have disabilities in Kindergarten - 12th grades. Each workshop costs $80. Unfortunately, this program is being cut from 1000 workshops each year to 500 due to cuts at the federal level.

1.Send check payable to "Arts for All Nevada" with Memo "In Honor/Memory of Nilsine Hansen" to 250 Court Street, Reno, NV 89501 or hand deliver to Lake Mansion (M-F, 9-5).

2.Online at https://www.artsforallnevada.org/about-us/donate/ and include Nilsine Hansen's name in the In Memory/Honor of line.

P.E.O Scholarship Funds

In addition to supporting their own college (Cottey College)P.E.O. has a variety of ways in which they support the advancement of women and their education through scholarships, grants and loans.

1.https://donations.peointernational.org and selecting a needs based scholarship, loan, or grant. Designate the donation In Memory of "Nilsine Hansen" and give credit to chapter F\NV.

The family invites you to share a memory or condolence message in Nilsine's Book of Memories at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.