Nina Hansen

Nina Bowden Hansen
Bangor
Nina Bowden Hansen 91, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2020 with her children by her side. Her legacy of love for family, her students and her community will live forever in the hearts of the those whose lives she touched.
She was born in Bangor, Maine to Grace and Irving Bowden. She attended Bangor schools and graduated from Husson College and the University of Maine. She married her husband Sidney in 1951 and together they raised their children, Eric, Cynthia and Joel. She made it her life’s mission to bestow upon her family, friends and students as much attention, good humor, compassion, encouragement, and fun as she could.
Nina was devoted to her family and her love was unconditional. She always wanted her family to look out for each other as well as for those less fortunate. She held the heart of a public servant. Her powers of persuasion were legendary and at times relentless. If you were not initially inclined to do the right thing, you were always thankful you did whatever she “gently” encouraged you to do.
She was a lifelong member of Hammond Street Congregational Church and proud to be part of a welcoming and inclusive congregation. She found joy in the fellowship, serving on the Diaconate and Christian Outreach Committee and volunteering at the food cupboard.
Teaching was more than a vocation for Nina; she loved nurturing and educating each soul that entered her classroom. She taught in Winterport, at St John’s in Bangor, and at Kenduskeag Elementary. In retirement she was a substitute teacher in the Bangor School system.
In addition to her parents, Irving and Grace Bowden, she was predeceased by her husband, Sidney Hansen; son, Eric Hansen; sister, Shirlie Knight and brothers, Irving and Gordon Bowden; as well as dear sisters and brothers in law and nieces.
She is survived by her son, Joel Hansen and wife, Gayle of Hermon; her daughter Cynthia Reid and husband, David of Bangor; and five grandchildren, Erica King, Hayley Adams, Ansley Moore, Joshua Hansen, and Kristin Hanegan. She adored her great grandsons, Josiah and Jonah King, Dylan and Beckett Moore, and Cooper Hanegan. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Marlene Donahue and Linda Hansen. She treasured all her nieces and nephews, Sheri Severance and Peggy Pupkis were especially dear.
Nina doted on all; relations near and distant, cousins, inlaws, exlaws, steps, and friends. Once you were in the family circle you stayed there forever. Those folks are happily too numerous to mention, but if you were fortunate enough to be part of that circle then you know how much she valued you.
For the past decade, EAAA’s Novel Senior Book Group, Penobscot County Retired Teachers and her local AARP chapter kept her active and engaged. Many people supported her independence, comforted her and made her laugh, Florence Conley, Connie Kilcomins, Connie Insley, Jeanne Baker, Gary Lowe, and Greg and Sally McManus among them.
A celebration of life will be held later this summer. She perennially advised others to live their faith and to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving of one another - acts of kindness or forgiveness would honor her memory.
Donations in Nina’s memory may also be made to Hammond St Congregational Church.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.