The World Turned Upside Down

Last Friday I received a call that no one ever really wants to get.  While driving early that morning, my dad had a heart attack and crashed into a tree, then passed away in the hospital after several unsuccessful surgeries.

The news was a shock to all of us and this past week has been quite surreal, with moments of sobbing and grief along with moments of peace and calm.  It's difficult being so far away from immediate family at a time like this and I so wish we could all be together right now.  Unfortunately, due to the various restrictions in place for the Coronavirus, we've had to make a lot of adjustments to what would have been a proper funeral and burial.  {Although, to be quite honest -- I think my dad would actually get a kick out of the fact that a huge piece of history is at play in this scenario.}

A viewing was held last night in Fresno, CA and tomorrow will be a graveside service in Hiko, NV.  I hate so much that I can't be there with my family.  Being so far away is difficult all round.  I'm grateful, however, that I have felt peace in my decision not to fly right now -- because otherwise I would be racked with guilt.  I know my dad would understand, though, and while I can't be there tomorrow in person, my thoughts and my love will be sent there in my place.

I've had the privilege this week of composing both his obituary and a eulogy for his service.  It has been draining yet healing at the same time.  Reminiscing with my siblings via our group chat text this week has made me feel so much happiness and peace, and I know my dad would love that.  He was a complex man with his own personal crosses to bear, but I believe he left this life in a trail of glory.  I don't know if somehow he knew his time was near or not, but it seems as though -- in the end -- he had made things right with all that needed to be righted in his world and he was prepared to meet his Savior.

I wish I had talked to him one last time.  If I could, I would tell him:  thank you for helping me to feel like I had an ally while I was growing up; thank you for always indulging my habit of wanting to buy books and read; thank you for telling us all your "Little Freddie" stories when we were young; thank you for making the effort to call each Sunday, even if I didn't always answer and respond; thank you for sending birthday packages to my kids and making an effort to visit whenever you could; and finally, just thank you for being my dad.  I love you.

Alfred Lee Hansen

Obituary

On Friday afternoon -- 13 March 2020 -- Alfred Lee Hansen of Fresno, CA died at the age of 66 after experiencing a heart attack while driving early that morning.  “Fred” was born on 1 July 1953 in Elko, NV to Alfred William Hansen and Dorsmae (Hinze) Hansen and spent his childhood and teen years in Chowchilla, CA before leaving home to serve a mission for his church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Brazil.  After finishing his studies at Brigham Young University, he went on to study law at Tulane University in New Orleans with a wife and young baby in tow. For the next two decades, Fred was proud to call New Orleans home as he practiced law and served in his Church and community -- and added six more children to the mix.  

He was an avid philatelist, a voracious reader, and a story-teller extraordinaire.  His “gift of gab” endeared him to the many people with whom he came in contact and his prolific journal writings may rival even Alexander Hamilton’s in sheer volume.  He loved the post office, fountain pens, going to the symphony, and whistling, but most of all, he loved his children. They were his pride and joy and in his later years, he took the time to call each one on a weekly basis to wish them a “Happy Sabbath” and to say “I love you” and “I’m proud of you.”  That love enveloped his grandchildren as well, and the “Papi” care packages he sent to them were legendary. If ever asked what his dream vacation would be, his answer was always quick and sincere -- he would spend his time traveling to visit his children and grandchildren. His devotion to family was highlighted in his final years as he cared for his beloved mother prior to her passing last Fall.

Fred is survived by his father, Alfred William Hansen; the mother of his children, Nancy (Bourgeois) Hansen; his children, Jessica (Scott), Emily (Jeremy), Sarah (Andrew), Alfred “Freddie” Hansen, Laura (Trevor), Amy Annelle Hansen, and Jacob (Kaitlin) Hansen; 15 grandchildren; his brothers, James “Jamie” (Susan) Hansen, Royce (Kim) Hansen, Von (Amy) Hansen, and his sister Lori Jean (Richard) Burman.  He is preceded in death by his mother, Dorsmae (Hinze) Hansen.

Fred will be laid to rest in the family cemetery in Hiko, NV.