JoAnn Carlson Hansen, 74, passed away Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton. Born in Jamestown, NY she moved to New Jersey with her family where she met and married Thomas E. Hansen, her spouse for 51 years. They lived in New Jersey, where they raised three children, until Thomas' retirement from the Air Force in 1988, when they moved Hilton Head, SC. Every year they spent the summer relaxing at their vacation home in upstate New York. In 2003, JoAnn and Tom moved back to New Jersey to be closer to family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, playing cards, computer games, spending time with her children and grandchildren, watching her grandchildren play sports, and her beloved dog Corkie â?? a Christmas gift from her daughter Karen and her children.

She is predeceased by her husband, Thomas Edward Hansen Sr.; her parents, Henry and Emma Carlson; and an infant son, Jeffrey Hansen. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Thomas and Barbara Hansen, Debra and Thomas Gafgen, and Karen DelGrande; one sister Margaret Carlson; two sister-in-laws, Ellen Pavero and Katheryn Peake; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey, Stephen, and Stephanie Hansen, Kyle and Kevin Gafgen, Ryan, Daniel, Ashley, and Colleen DelGrande; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, February 2, at 4pm at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main Street, Allentown, NJ. The family will receive friends and relatives prior to the service at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Popcorn Park Zoo, Humane Way at Lacey Road, PO Box 43, Forked River, NJ 08731-0043.