Florence M. Hanson

Florence M. "Norma" (Bourne) Hanson, 87, of Plantation Street, Worcester, formerly of Pleasant Street, Berlin, MA, passed away, Thursday, June 7, 2007, in The Saint Francis Home of Worcester. She leaves a daughter, Lynda Vaillancourt and her husband Paul of Hadley, Colorado; two sons, John M. Brisbois and his wife Bonnie of Worcester, and Ronald Hanson and his wife Angela of Flag Staff, Arizona; three brothers, Frank, Reginald, and Ronald, all in England; five grandchildren, Kenneth Brisbois, Yvette Friberg, Ryan and Josh Hanson, and Paul Vaillancourt; a great granddaughter, Anna Friberg; nieces and nephews. A brother, Ernest as well as a sister, Alice Harvey, both pre-deceased her. Florence was born in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England, the daughter of Ernest and Margaret (Travers) Bourne, where she grew up and was educated. During World War II, she worked in an ammunition factory in England. Following the war she came to the United States in 1946 to raise a family.

Mrs. Hanson, one of Date General's first one hundred workers, was an assembler and quality control inspector for many years, before she retired in 1982. While living in Berlin she was a member of Saint Joseph The Good Provider Church, and was board member of W.H.E.A.T., and was also a member of the British-American Club.

The funeral Mass for Mrs. Hanson will be celebrated on Saturday, June 16, at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1290 Grafton Street, Worcester. Interment will follow in South Cemetery, Berlin. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to The Saint Francis Home, 101 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01604.

MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, is honored to assist the family with these arrangements.