Elsie Joyce (Harrison) Hanna, 95, of The Villages, FL formerly of Alexis, Galesburg and Kewanee, IL passed away at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20, 2019 at Buffalo Crossing Care Center in Florida.
Elsie was born February 6, 1924, in the Burgess area of Mercer County, Illinois, the daughter of Orville Leon Harrison and Agnes Judith (Swanson) Harrison.
Elsie married John William Hanna on January 31, 1948, in Alexis Illinois at St. Theresa’s parish. Together they celebrated 54 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on August 25, 2002. Along with her husband, Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Marjorie (Harrison) Smith, three brothers, Dallas (Bus) Harrison, Robert Harrison, Charles Harrison, and two infant granddaughters Christine Williams and Candace Pheiffer, and one great-grandson, Jett Vorass.
Elsie is survived by Rita Williams (Rodney) of North Henderson, Theresa Pheiffer (Gary) of Kewanee, Michael Hanna of Galesburg, and Kimberly Doyle (Robert) of The Villages, FL. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren Cory Williams (Heidi), Chad Williams, Aaron Pheiffer (Kathy), Valerie Hawkins (John), Natalie Vorass (Jim), Brooke Day (Scott), Amber Johnson (George), Veronica Wittenmyer (Caleb) and Tyler Hunt along with 12 great-grandchildren.
Elsie attended rural Mercer County schools as well as Viola schools. Elsie started her working career at the Rock Island Arsenal during wartime. She later went to work at the Alexis Bank as a teller. She and her husband farmed together in the Alexis area for many years where she became known for her great cooking skills, feeding the crews during harvest.
Later she and her husband owned Hanna’s Cafe in Alexis where she honed her skills of baking pies. After selling the restaurant, she became the bookkeeper for her husband’s custom shelling and combining business. She ended her work career much like she began her work career by becoming an assembly line worker for Admiral (Maytag) in Galesburg.
Elsie’s greatest passion and love were being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother always being there for all of them. She also had a love of cooking, playing bingo, reading, playing board games or cards, and watching all sports on television especially the Cubs and Bears.
Her love, kindness, and caring were felt by all whose lives she touched and will remain with us forever.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 28, 2019, at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass for Elsie will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Galesburg. Rev. Jacob Rose will officiate. Burial will follow in Alexis Cemetery, Alexis. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Online expressions of sympathy may be left to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
