Sarah "Sally" L. Hanson

Sarah “Sally” LaFountain Hanson (83) passed into glory at home surrounded by the love of her family on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Sally was born June 17, 1939 in Southwest Harbor, Maine to Richard and Barbara (Wallace) Robinson. When she was very young, she was adopted by her aunt and uncle Mary (Wallace) and Robert LaFountain. They loved and raised Sally as their own in Springfield, Vermont. When she entered school, she immediately skipped the first grade then continued on to graduate from Springfield High School in 1956. Sally attended the University of Connecticut where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy and met the love of her life, John Henry Hanson.

John and Sally were married on October 21, 1961 at the Berlin Congregational Church in Berlin, Connecticut, beginning their solid, loving and faithful marriage of over 61 years. Together, they raised their five children with love, integrity and firmness and ran Spruce Brook Farm. Over the years, her farm work included milking cows when she was eight months pregnant, learning to drive the farm truck with backwards steering, and unsuccessfully hiding the sweet corn from the raccoons.

Sally was born to be a Grandma, helping to raise, advise, and make brownies with her six grandchildren. Her caring heart was also displayed in her long career as a Registered Physical Therapist, working for Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, Middlesex VNA, Berlin VNA and Masonic Healthcare. She loved her church, especially singing in the choir, and served many years on the Prayer Team, as Church Clerk, Deacon, Co-Sexton, Vacation Bible School Choir Leader, May Breakfast Egg Cook, Tot Time Grandma, and too many other roles to list.

Along with her children and grandchildren, Sally loved UCONN Women’s Basketball, the Boston Red Sox, Uncle D’s Diner and their pea soup, and lobster rolls.

Sally was pre-deceased by her beloved youngest son, Timothy, her brothers Robert LaFountain, Leigh, Dickie, and John Robinson. Besides her husband, she is survived by her children, John Jr. and his wife Linda of Onancock, VA, Mary of Hartford, Nancy of Northfield, MA and Jim and his wife Jill of Berlin; her grandchildren Sarah, Erik, Jennifer, Rebecca, Travis and Ethan, her sisters Faith Horsky, Jean Jackson and Mary Talley, her brothers Phil, Barry and Bill Robinson, and countless friends who will cherish her memory.

Calling hours will be Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 111 Chamberlain Hwy., Berlin. The funeral service will begin at 10:00 am on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Berlin Congregational Church, 878 Worthington Ridge, Berlin.  Burial will be in Maple Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sally’s honor to the Berlin Congregational Church.

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