Dorothy A. (Trautvetter) Hansen

Portsmouth, New Hampshire – Dorothy A. Hansen, formerly of Eliot, ME and Somersworth, NH, passed away after a battle of years with multiple strokes on May 11, 2024. She was 83 years old. She was the daughter of the late Burl & Lois Trautvetter. She was a resident of Eliot, ME and Somersworth, NH over the past 20+ years, loving the area, particularly First Parish Congregational Church in York, ME.

Dorothy was born on January 2, 1941 in Warsaw, IL. She was raised in a farming community in western Illinois, the oldest of four children.  Dorothy met the love of her life in high school, Jan M. Hansen and they were married when she was just 18 years old, shortly after graduating from high school. They were married for over 50 years and remained very close ever since, until Jan passed away in September of 2023.

Dorothy was very active and outgoing in school, close to so many local friends and relatives.  She was in the high school homecoming court and involved in so many things during her school years.  Dating Jan during a good portion of her high school years, they married shortly after she graduated and they moved to Chicago, IL.

During their early married years, they lived in multiple apartments in Chicago and the Chicago area.  Dorothy got training in being a beautician and worked in a shop within a large department store.  She also had her first child, a son, just 18 months after marrying.  They purchased their first house in 1963 in Richton Park, IL.  When her son got to school age, she opened a hair salon in her own home.  In 1966, she had a daughter.  Until they left Richton Park in 1976, Dorothy was very active in the area, particularly in school related and for a time served as the president of the P.T.A..

In future years, Dorothy moved to other places with the family.  She lived in Brentwood, TN, Bridgewater, NJ and Acton, MA.  After the kids went out on their own, She also lived with Jan in Lausanne, Switzerland, Lanesboro, MA and Eliot, ME.  She worked in multiple banks as a clerk and eventually became an assistant manager.  After divorcing in 2010, she purchased her own homes in Somersworth, NH and Eliot, ME before ultimately moving to a senior center where she could get more assistance for her day-to-day needs.

Dorothy was always very active and enjoyed a number of sports.  She particularly enjoyed swimming, playing tennis and golf as well as bowling.  Once retiring from work, she also volunteered her time in different activities.  She loved traveling.  While the family was younger, the four traveled to all 50 U.S. states, joking that the only one they flew to was Hawaii since you can’t drive there.  They also visited every province of Canada.  Once these goals were achieved and the kids were older, she went on school-related trips with the kids to places like Ireland and many countries in Europe.  She also went on trips with family and church-related groups.  These trips were some of her life’s highlights.

Few would ever know, but Dorothy was tough when she needed to be.  She fought cancer in her upper 30’s and had her first of a few strokes when she was only 56.  She rarely complained and just did what she needed to do to get through each challenge.  Her third stroke happened right around the time that Covid-19 became better known in the spring of 2020, so it was difficult for her to get the care and therapy that she needed.  She’s never stopped fighting, even though over time things like her eyesight have failed her.

Beyond Dorothy being tough when she had to be, she will mostly be remembered for being so loving and caring for others.  She was the best mother that her children could ever ask for.  She was also very giving to others.  Beyond adoring her kids, she also loved her sister and brothers, not to mention her own parents and so many cousins and friends in western Illinois.  Every place she lived, she made new friends, making friends very easily.  During the last few months of her life, so many people supported her, sending her cards and leaving messages that were relayed to her by her children.  There were also some people who were able to visit her, adding to the quality of her life.  Thank you to everyone who cared so much for her.

Dorothy is predeceased by Jan Hansen, her husband of over 50 years. She’s also survived by her son Steven Hansen of North Reading, MA, his wife Anne Hansen, their children, her grandchildren Rebecca Tomasovic and Erik Hansen along with Rebecca's husband Mark Tomasovic. Additionally, she’s survived by her daughter Julie Balch of Kenosha, WI, her husband Gareth Balch, their children and her grandchildren Molly, Alyssa and Kyra Balch.  She is also survived by her sister, Marjorie Gooding and her husband Dan, her brother Harley Trautvetter (deceased) and his wife Lateala and her brother, Dennis Trautvetter and his wife Marianne.  She’s also survived by many loved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers,  please make a contribution to the American Stroke Association in her name.

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