Carol Ann (Doucette) Hanke, age 86, a resident of The Arbors Assisted Living in Dracut, a former longtime resident of Tewksbury, MA and devout communicant of St. William’s Parish of Tewksbury, passed away peacefully at her Dracut home on Monday, September 14, 2026.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 52 years Paul F. Hanke, who passed away on May 4, 2010, and her beloved eldest daughter Brenda M. Ferdinand (former husband Anthony Ferdinand), who passed away on July 7, 2011.
Born in Winchester on May 29, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Clarence L. Doucette and the late Frances L. (Surrette) Doucette.
Carol was raised in Reading and attended Reading Public Schools. During her high school years, her family moved to East Longmeadow, MA where she graduated from Classical High School in Springfield, MA.
Carol started working as a retail associate at Stuart’s in Tewksbury in 1981, and moved onto T.J. Maxx in Wilmington, MA until her retirement in 2017.
In her spare time, Carol loved watching sports. She was a proud member of Red Sox Nation and a dedicated New England Patriots fan. She was also an avid fan of the Tewksbury High School football teams. In addition, she loved to watch the Bruins and Celtics as well as college football.
During her residence at The Arbors over the past three years, she enjoyed participating in the many activities offered as well as socializing with the many cherished friends she made while living there. The highlight of the activities was Bingo.
Carol is survived by her son Paul V. Hanke and his wife Elaine, of Newport, RI, and three daughters, Lisa A. Rancourt and her husband Scott, of South Grafton, Sharon E. Sonnenfroh and her husband David, of North Andover, and Donna J. Hanke and her husband Robert Levin, of Bar Harbor, ME. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Stephen (wife Samantha), Kevin, Hector and Kaitlyn Ferdinand, Jessica Rancourt, Emily Sonnenfroh, and Eliza and Clara Levin, and one precious great granddaughter, Lily Ferdinand. She was the sister of the late Dorothy Hildreth, Paul Doucette, Jeanne Meuse, Virginia DiGregorio and Thomas Doucette.
Calling hours are Sunday, September 20th, from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. Her funeral procession will begin on Monday, September 21st, at 10 am at the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 11 am at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Route 38, Tewksbury. Services will conclude with interment at St. Mary Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation at www.wish.org