Eunice Eileen (Strand) Hansen

FONTANA, Calif. - Eunice Eileen (Strand) Hansen, 83, of Fontana, passed away Feb. 10, 2014.

Eunice was born Nov. 28, 1930, in Bessemer, Mich., to John Leonard and Theresa Mary (Bretall) Strand. The Strand family was very active in the community and regularly attended Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, Mich. At age 16, Eunice moved to Wheaton, Ill., to live with her aunt. During her free time, she enjoyed horseback riding. She graduated from Wheaton College Academy in June 1949. While working as a volunteer for the United Service Organization (USO), her hard work was recognized and she was hired as a long-distance operator. She later worked as a receptionist for a carpet installation company where she met her future husband, Paul Kenneth Hansen, on a blind date.

When Paul's family moved to San Bernardino, Paul asked her to move to California and they were married in January 1953. Shortly afterwards, the family moved into a small home in Rialto, but when their family started to expand they moved into a larger home in Fontana in 1959, where they remained for the rest of their lives.

Eunice was a homemaker, wife and loving mother. Her hobbies included sewing, reading, yard work (she loved her fruit trees) and sightseeing. She proudly completed her associate degree from San Bernardino Valley Community College while in her late 50s. She was active in various churches including Bloomington Church of the Nazarene and Crosspoint Community Church. She was a good friend to the neighborhood families.

Paul and Eunice had three children.

Eunice is survived by her brother, John William Strand; her sister, JoAnn Mattson; stepbrother, Ronald Kittle Strand; son, Charles, and daughter-in-law, Linda Hansen; daughter, Sharon Gibson, and daughter, Anita Hansen, and son-in-law Veon Dillon; her grandchildren, David Carmona and wife Misty, Merie Gibson, Phillip Gibson and wife Lynetta, Lauritz Dillon and Lydia Dillon; and her great-grandchildren, Paul Carmona, David Carmona, Damarius Gibson and Arianna Gibson.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Paul; her parents, John and Theresa Strand; her sisters, Ruth McBain, June Smith and Patricia Anderson; and her stepmother, Lovida (Olsen-Kittle) Strand.

A private viewing was held at Ingold Funeral Chapel, Fontana, on Feb. 13, and a memorial service was held on Feb. 18 at the Crosspoint Community Church, Fontana.

Interment will be at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Calif.