Eileen M. Hanna

Born in Rosefield, IL on July 2, 1930 to Roy and Marie (Streider) Miars, Eileen Marie Hanna passed away in Bellingham, WA on December 25, 2023.

While attending Manual high school in Peoria, IL, she worked as a waitress at Hunts Drive-In. She and her husband, Frank, were part owners of Bellingham Transmission where she picked up parts, gave customers rides, and helped pump gas. When her sons were young, she was active with the PTA at Larrabee Elementary School. In the late 1950s, she became ill and spent time in hospitals in Seattle where she was diagnosed with encephalitis. After returning home, she was never to walk on her own again. She continued to live a full life, raising her three children, David, Michael, and Emily, and later caring for grandchildren, Ryan, Amy, Jarrod, and Lindsey, whom she loved and adored. After the death of her husband Frank, she continued to live on her own (with help) until very recently.

She enjoyed baking and was always delighted to share her recipes. She also loved gardening, playing cards, and telling stories about her childhood. Eileen was always willing to go to the casino, and loved playing the penny slots during her multiple trips to Las Vegas. She would go home to Illinois to visit family and friends and was always thrilled when they came to see her in Washington. She liked hot air balloons and in 2001 she took a trip to Albuquerque for the hot air balloon festival with her son Michael. Christmas was Eileen’s favorite holiday and she handmade ornaments that were sold here locally. In later years, she began collecting snowmen and had over 45 of them in her home at the last count. She and her husband Frank had many good friends, including all the people they met through the Automotive Service Association.

Eileen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Frank Hanna; brothers, Pete, Donald, and Jerry Miars; sisters, Harriett Sparks, Ruth McCoy, and Janet Spencer; brothers-in-law, Jim Hanna and his wife Bev, and John Hanna and his wife Loraine; and sister-in-law, Lois Roush and her husband Bill Roush.

She is survived by her sons, David Hanna and his wife Ann, and Michael Hanna; daughter, Emily Linder; grandchildren, Ryan Hanna, Lindsey (Hanna) Lafeen and her husband Jeremy, Amy Linder, and Jarrod Linder; great-granddaughters, Naomi, Jessa, and Kylie Lafeen and Holli Davis; brother, Roger Miars of Peoria, IL; sister, Barbara Stephan of Chicago, IL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, January 3 at 1:00pm at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham.