Lou Hansen, formerly of Douglas, passed away early Wednesday, January 04, 2012 in Tucson after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
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Ermita was an upper class cosmopolitan district in the 1930’s and Lou grew up around the Philippine establishment elite. She was taught to play the piano by Stella Goldenberg Brimo, an internationally acclaimed concert pianist. Her mother, also named Lourdes was the niece of Congressman Pedro Gil, an agitator for Philippine independence from the United States. Her paternal uncle was married to the first cousin of Senator Manuel Roxas also an independence advocate. During her childhood she attended the Ermita church where her father introduced her to Senator Manuel Quezon, a family friend. The family eventually moved to the Malate district of Manila where she attended Santa Scholastica College and walked to school with the three Cojuangco sisters also daughters of a Congressman. An American aircraft designer married to her aunt introduced her to his friend “Ike” who was also working in the Philippines at the time. Quezon, Roxas and Cory Cojuangco Aquino all became Presidents of the Philippines while “Ike” later became President of the United States.
From 1942-1945 the Japanese occupied Manila. Her father was active in the resistance and gave key testimony in the War Crimes Trial of General Yamashita. When the Americans returned, pitched battles were fought in their neighborhood and the family was forced to run for their lives. At one point the entire family was about to be executed by enemy soldiers when American troops suddenly appeared and rescued them. After the liberation of Manila the family lived in the residential quarters of the Tanduay Rum distillery in North Manila. Her Uncle, an executive of the company that owned Tanduay, got the distillery running and began making liquor to sell to the countless American soldiers who flocked there. Her exotic looks attracted the attention of many suitors who frequented Tanduay and later, the family home. Before too long she was engaged to one special American. In 1947 she made her first trip to the United States to meet her future in-laws. The trip was cut short by a family emergency and she returned to the Philippines. In the meantime she had changed her mind about her “fiancé” but on impulse married an acquaintance, Harold “Hal” C. Hansen, an Accountant; she met at a refreshment kiosk run by one of her aunts. That impulsive marriage lasted fifty years.
Lou came to America again to give birth to their eldest son Robert “Bob.” They then returned to the Philippines where Hal worked at Benquet Consolidated Mining Corporation in Baguio. Their only daughter Christine was born in Baguio. In early 1951 Hal and Lou and kids returned permanently to the States. They lived with Hal’s mother at the family home in San Mateo, California, until Hal used the G.I. bill to get their own home in a new subdivision. Son Richard “Rick” was born in 1952. Lou became an American Citizen in 1953 a few months before son Dennis was born. In 1956 Hal moved the family to Phoenix as he felt the warm dry air would be healthier than the California damp for Lou and the kids. In 1957 he was offered a job at the Paul Lime Plant near Douglas and it was Douglas that became the permanent family home.
Life in Douglas suited her and she made many friends and got involved in many activities. Her five children attended Loretto school and all graduated from Douglas High School. She loved playing Bingo and bowling with her Shamrock Dairy Bowling team as well as playing the piano. She also was active in Saint Luke’s Church and with the Douglas YWCA. Youngest son Eric was born in Douglas. As the children grew up and moved out of town Hal and Lou remained in Douglas even after Hal retired. Medical needs were the reason for their move to Tucson in 1996 but their hearts never left Douglas. Hal passed away in 1997 and youngest son Eric in 1999 but she stayed in Tucson to be near sons Dennis and Rick. Bob returned to California after coming home from Vietnam and daughter Christine married and moved to England.
Hal, and Eric, her father Antonio, mother Lourdes, brothers Ramon, Antonio and Jose Maria, preceded her in death. She is survived by children Robert “Bob” (Rosalinda), Christine Rowton (Nick), Dennis (Tracey), and Rick (Becky) as well as 9 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren in the United States and England. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins in the Philippines, the United States, Australia and Spain also survive her.
Celebrations of her life were held in Tucson at Saint Elizabeth Anne Seton Church on Friday, January 13th and in Douglas at Saint Luke’s Church on Saturday, January 14th. Another service will be held in California prior to her internment at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation to a favorite charity and a visit to a shut-in at an assisted living facility.
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