Obituary of Pearl A. Hanna

Pearl A. Hanna, 85, of Stewart Street passed away Monday evening at the Edward L. Wilkinson RHCF, with her loving family at her side, and where she had been a patient for one week. She was born Oct 21, 1922 in Amsterdam, NY and she was the daughter of Leon and Victoria Chmaj Derinsky. Pearl was a graduate of St. Mary's Institute and the Amsterdam Business School. She was first employed by the Mohasco Industries of Amsterdam and later worked as a bookkeeper for 35 years for the St. Mary's Hospital in Amsterdam, until retiring a number of years ago. She was a devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church. Pearl looked forward to family vacations in Wildwood, New Jersey and she loved the ocean. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She cherished her grandsons and loved spending time with them. Gardening was her favorite hobby, especially tending to her rose garden in her back yard. On June 13, 1953, she married John H. Hanna, who died February 1, 2003. She was also predeceased by an infant daughter, Janet Lee Hanna, who died in 1954 and a cherished uncle, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Francis Chmaj. Survivors include two daughters Joan Lee Van Wie William J. of Hagaman and Suzanne Playford Walter Jr. of Amsterdam; two grandsons William John Van Wie and Jonathan Hanna Van Wie. Nephews and cousins also survive. Funeral services will be held on Friday February 1, 2008 at 8:15 am at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:15 am at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church, 39 St. John Street, Amsterdam, NY with the Reverend Pascal Iannotti as celebrant. Burial will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Fort Johnson. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 4 to 7pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Pearl's memory to the Mt. Carmel Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 699, Amsterdam, NY 12010 or to a charity of one's choice.