Helen Elizabeth Hansen

On September 28, 2021, Helen Hansen, a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully at the age of 99. She is survived by her children, Larry, Karl (Pam), and Kris Rich (Dan), four grandchildren, Kerilyn (Josh), Erin (Scott), Helen (Brian) and Clovas and five great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Mabel Cram, her husband Rudolph Hansen, her son John Hansen, her brothers Henry and John Cram and her sister Sherley Kay Schoeneman. She was born in Prineville, Oregon on November 11, 1921 and grew up in Portland Oregon. She was a member of Sunnyside Methodist Church and went to Portland Secretarial School before moving to Sacramento, California where she raised her family and worked as a secretary for the federal government. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and in 1988, St. Francis of Assisi Parish became her church home. Over the years she participated in outreach and bible studies at Trinity Cathedral and her husband, Rudy was the choir director at Lutheran Church of the Master. She cherished time spent with family, friends, at prayer retreats, Bible study, Centering Prayer, gardening, and helping others through outreach programs (Contact Teleministries, Faith in Crisis and Compassionate Friends). She loved her family dearly and was a bright spiritual light for all of us. The book Helen wrote “Sent to Forgive” outlines her difficult spiritual journey when she lost her son, and gives a glimpse of Helen’s “saint like” inner self that grew from being called to forgive. A Celebration of Life service will be held on November 12, 2021 at 10am at St. Francis Assisi Parish, 1066 26th St, Sacramento, CA 95816.