Edna Marie Milan

Edna “Marie” Hanson was born on June 8, 1918 in Toronto, Ontario to Edna and Russell Hanson in their family home. Marie lived in Toronto from 1918 to 1946. Growing up, she was very close to her brothers Russell (2 years her junior) and baby brother Norman (12 years younger). In Toronto she attended grammar school and went on to graduate from Business College. Upon graduation Marie worked at Canada Liquid Air where she met her life-long friend Mary Young.

After boarding a train in Ontario to go and see her then boyfriend receive his pilot’s wings, Marie lost her balance when walking towards her seat. She fell onto the lap of Daniel Milan, a handsome young man from Three Hills, Alberta who was heading to the same location to receive his wings. A spark was ignited and the two began an exchange of letters over the next few years. Marie and Dan were married on June 19, 1946 in Calgary, Alberta. The newspaper announced, “Following a wedding breakfast at which the bride’s mother received, the couple left by motor for a wedding trip to Banff.”

After their honeymoon, Marie and Dan settled in Calgary from 1946 to 1952. While residing in Calgary, Marie and Dan were saddened by the deaths of their first born twin boys, and then blessed with the births of Martin (1948) and June (1950). In 1952 Dan rejoined the RCAF as a pilot. Flight Lieutenant D.T. Milan, Marie and the children moved to Summerside, P.E.I. While stationed in the Maritimes their second daughter, Sally (1953) was born. In 1953, Dan and the children moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta and then to Ralston, Alberta. Dan was stationed at Suffield Experimental Station from 1953 to 1958. In those years Arthur (1954), Norman (1956) and Mary (1958) were born. The same year that Mary was born, the family again moved, this time to the RCAF base in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Two years later Marie and the family were on the move again, this time to St. Jean, Quebec. Shortly after their arrival there, their seventh child, another daughter, Ellen, was born. Another move in 1963 took Marie and the family to Greenwood, Nova Scotia. In 1965 Dan was discharged from the Air Force and the family crossed the country again to settle, this time permanently, in Calgary. Marie and Dan bought a house in Glendale in southwest Calgary where they raised their family. During that time, Marie rekindled her friendships with Mary Young and June Martin (whom she met during her first stint in Calgary), and made a new lifetime friend, Sandy Gerula. After Dan passed away in 1984, Marie remained in the house, always keeping the home open to family and friends. In her final days Marie was a resident in Clifton Manor in Calgary where she passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, April 4 with her daughter Sally holding her hand.

Throughout her life Marie had a love for music. Her gift of perfect pitch and a natural ability to transfer what she heard to the piano made her popular at functions with family and friends throughout her life. Her love for music was shared with Dan who often played fiddle while Marie accompanied on the piano. All of the Milan children have been affected by Marie’s love for music and many hours were spent singing songs and playing a variety of instruments in family jam sessions with Marie at the centre either playing the piano or tapping out the beat with obvious pride and joy on her smiling face.

Marie, beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, is survived by her seven children: Martin (Donna), June Early, Sally Milan, Arthur (Patricia), Norman (Sherron), Mary Weedman (Les), Ellen Milan-Wilfred (Ben Wilfred); 29 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; brother Norman Hanson; and several nieces and nephews. Marie was predeceased by her husband Daniel Milan; twin sons, James and Joseph; her mother and father, Edna (McDowell) and Russell Hanson; and her brother Russell Hanson.

There will be a celebration of her life at South Calgary Funeral Centre, 12700 Macleod Trail South, (at Lake Fraser Gate) Calgary on Thursday, April 10, 2014 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Name Roman Catholic Parish, 2223 – 34 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place in Trochu, Alberta following the funeral mass.

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to Clifton Manor, 4726 – 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2A 0A8.