Dr. Mary L. Hansen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Mary L. Hansen, Psychiatrist: Dr. Mary L. Hansen passed away June 9, 2012 at the age of 90. Dr. Hansen grew up in Penn Valley, the only child of Edward and Mary Larney. An avid reader, she excelled in school and was Valedictorian when she graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1938. She went on to the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Chemistry, and then to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, where she was one of a handful of women in her graduating class. Dr. Hansen has been a lifelong member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. During her residency at Pennsylvania General Hospital, she met her husband A. Victor Hansen, Jr. They were married in 1947, and shared a wonderful life together until he passed away in January 2006. Dr. Hansen worked at the Philadelphia Psychiatric Hospital and at Philadelphia State Hospital until 1950. She stayed home in the 1950s while she raised her three children. In the mid 1960’s, she joined her husband on the staff at Haverford State Hospital, where she was a psychiatrist until her retirement in 1989. She was also the medical consultant for the soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live for many years. Dr. Hansen and her husband were founding members of the Pennsylvania Association of State Mental Hospital Physicians, where she served as Secretary. Dr. Hansen enjoyed gardening, sewing and classical music, attending Philadelphia Orchestra concerts as a regular subscriber. She sewed many of her own clothes, and always hand-made her children’s Halloween costumes and school play costumes. An excellent cook, she hosted Sunday family dinners for years - starting when her children were young and continuing the tradition after her grandchildren came along. She was quietly competent in everything she did, and was loved by all who knew her for her exceptional intelligence, kindness and gentleness. Dr. Hansen is survived by her three children, Victor, Christopher (Susan), and Barbara Hansen Carper (Nicholas), and five grandchildren, Kerry, Samantha and Kate Hansen, and Scott and Carolyn Carper. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Inglis Foundation, 2600 Belmont Avenue, Phila 19131.

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Dr. Mary L. Hansen