Audrey (Keach) Hansen, 79, of Groton, died peacefully Thursday, July 1, 2010, at Fairview Nursing Home. She was born in Fitchburg MA, the daughter of Corrine and Elliot W. Keach, on December 30, 1930. She grew up in various towns in New Hampshire where her father taught, was school principal, or district superintendent. In 1949 she graduated from Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in Boston and for several years was employed as a dental hygienist in Hanover, NH. In 1954 she met and fell in love with LTJG Merle Hansen, USN, an Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College. They married on February 19, 1955 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Hanover. Audrey left the practice of dental hygiene in July, 1955 when Merle attended Submarine School. They moved to San Diego after sub school, but when Merle assumed command of USS Tigrone in 1963, she returned to the New London area and established their home in Ledyard CT.
Audrey was devoted to her family and was an oustanding homemaker. She had a distinct flair for quickly making her home comfortable and attractive -- no small task because of their 37 moves in 55+ years of marriage. She lived in cities up and down the East and West coasts of the U.S. and in London, England. When moving into a new place she insisted that all windows in the place had curtains hung before going to bed the first night, even if the new place was merely half a Quonset-hut at San Francisco Naval Shipyard.
A committed Christian, Audrey took life-long vows as a Daughter of the King (DOK) - a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicatd to a life of prayer, service, and evangelism. She took satisfaction from caring for others, guarding them from life's pitfalls and perils. She offered her comfort gently and helpfully, quietly overseeing the health and welfare of those in need. She seemed fulfilled in the degree she could add to the safekeeping of those in her family, her circle of friends, and others in her military community. Audrey undertook these tasks modestly and unassumingly; as a consequence her efforts sometimes were not always fully appreciated.
Her initial shyness with strangers quickly dissolved, when others realized she was warm-hearted and sympathetic. She could chat tirelessly for as long as necessary to cover in minute detail everything concrete in another person's life. Her strong work ethic told her that work was good, and play must be earned. When she undertook a task, she completed it if at all humanly possible.
Audrey loved to shop -- for shoes, jewelry, clothing and furnishings for her home, or gifts for others. Yet she knew the value of a dollar and hated squandering or misusing resources. She coined a secret codeword -- pampelmousse (grapefruit in French and German). It inhibited splurging on costly items she might merely admire when shopping. Only a "pampelmousse" item embodied the characteristics of excellence, flawlessness, perfect fit, or appropriateness she was seeking.
She is survived by her husband, CAPT Merle Hansen, USN(ret) of Groton; her son and daughter-in-law, Mace and Christine Hansen of North Stonington CT; her grandsons, Mike and Tyler Hansen; her sister-in-law, Andrea Hansen of Manchester Center VT; and her Yorkshire Terrier dog, Kelly.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 2:00 PM at Windham Falls Estates, 425 Drozdyk Drive, Groton.
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