Obituary: Monica Leona (Maresch) Hansen

Feb. 26, 1927 – Dec. 18, 2019

Monica Leona (Maresch) Hansen, 92, formerly of Sturgeon Bay, died at Good Samaritan Society – Scandia Village in Sister Bay.

She was born in Manitowoc, the daughter of Leon Frederick Maresch and Marguerite Elizabeth (Drost) Maresch. Monica attended St. Boniface Catholic School in Manitowoc and graduated from Manitowoc Lincoln High School with the Class of 1945.

She went on to study at Holy Family School of Nursing in Manitowoc and worked at a doctor’s office part time. On Sept. 14, 1948, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart and best friend, Mead Roy Hansen, at the St. Boniface Catholic Church rectory. 

While living in Hartford from 1953 until 1967, Monica worked as a seamstress, doing alterations for Ester’s (bridal shop) and Delaney’s (menswear) as a tailor, in addition to teaching sewing, tailoring and even fur remodeling at the technical school in West Bend.

She started a Saturday-morning community sing-along at the city hall for kids and their families. In 1967, she and Mead moved to Kewaunee, and she worked for Swoboda Interiors, sewing custom curtains. Monica was also an early-childhood-education teacher’s aide, specializing in learning disability and autism.

She and Mead moved to Sister Bay in 1973, and she worked as a cook and baker for several restaurants in northern Door County, including Johnny’s Cottage Restaurant, Hotel du Nord and Charlie’s Supper Club.

In 1976, Monica opened Gra’ma’s Attic in Sister Bay, a custom clothing designs and antique shop, in partnership with her daughter, Linda, which they owned for many years. In the early 1990s, she opened Easy Stitchin’ Needle Art in Sister Bay with a business partner. They worked with many artists in the area and created many of their own designs. Monica learned how to weave and spin yarns in her later years to help her customers.

She retired when she was 82 to spend time with her family. Monica and Mead were blessed with more thabn 62 years of marriage together. He died March 5, 2011.

Monica was an adventurous spirit who, like her ancestors, wasn’t afraid to try anything. She was a caring and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Monica raised her family to believe in God and that all things were possible if you tried hard enough.

She and Mead were active members of Holy Name of Mary Parish in Maplewood for more than 35 years, and they were former members of St. Killian Parish in Hartford, Holy Rosary Parish in Kewaunee and St. Rosalia Parish in Sister Bay.

They had a love of music and sang in the Holy Name of Mary church choir and filled their home with Christmas singing during the holidays. Family was one of the most important things in Monica’s life. She was raised in a card-playing family and always enjoyed playing games, putting together puzzles, doing crafts and even played contract bridge.   

Monica’s love will live on in the hearts of her six children, William (Diane Gorychka) Hansen of Manitowoc, Linda (Dave Nickels) Hansen of Two Rivers, Jennifer (Roger) Levendusky of Sturgeon Bay, Paul (Kathryn) Hansen of Arlington, Virginia, Marty (Rick) Gename of Ellison Bay, and Sarah (Doug) Schoenwalder of Green Bay; six granddaughters, Margaret (Andrew Lindner) Hansen and Emily (Kevin Kralik) Hansen, Katie and Beth Levendusky, and Stacy and Rebecca Schoenwalder; two great-grandchildren, William and Margot Kralik; two sisters, Phyllis McKee and Sister Paulus Maresch, both of Manitowoc; other relatives; and friends.

She was reunited with her parents; husband; two sisters, Jean (Gerald) Klein and Elizabeth (Charlie) Komosa; brother-in-law, Louis McKee; niece and nephews, Margaret McKee, Peter Komosa, and Michael Klein; and other relatives.

Monica’s life will be honored with a mass of Christian burial celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 28, 12 pm, at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Maplewood, 7491 Cty H, Sturgeon Bay, with Fr. Ryan Krueger as celebrant and Deacon Mark Hibbs concelebrating. She will be laid to rest in the church cemetery beside her husband, Mead.

Visitation will be held at the church on Dec. 28, 10-11:50 am.

“Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staffs of Pine Crest Village Assisted Living and Cardinal Ridge Residential Care, both in Sturgeon Bay; the amazing, caring and supportive staff at Good Samaritan Society – Scandia Village in Sister Bay; and Unity Hospice for the wonderful and compassionate care you gave to Mom and all of us.”

Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay is assisting the Hansen family. Expressions of sympathy, memories and photos of Monica can be shared through her tribute page at huehnsfuneralhome.com.