Michele Hansen
From Eliafamily
Contents |
Michele Mary Barbarossa Hansen
| Michele Hansen | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fact File | |
| Birth Date: | {{{dob}}} |
| Family Information | |
| Lineage: | Angela Ocello Lineage |
| Parent: | Marie Barbarossa |
| Siblings: | Angela St. John Debra Dorward Mary Jo Barbarossa |
| Children: | Christopher Hansen |
Early Life
Michele Mary was the second child born to Marie and Ralph Barbarossa in Norwich, NY. She was named after her maternal grandfather, Michele Ocello. Her childhood memories, like big sister Angela's, are full of wonderful family gatherings; "pits-an-a-gees" from Great Grandma Elia; tiny bottles of anisette and Baby Ruth candy bars from Grandpa Ocello who we loved to watch as he stood on his head and twirled around; Aunt Fran's "beetza;" Aunt Peppy's meatballs; sweet, succulent mulberries from the Barbarossa farm; and the laughter around the kitchen table in spite of Dad's grumblings.
In high school Michele was on the yearbook staff, an officer in the Girls' Athletic Council and a frequent participant in intramural sports activities, and a member of Chi Alpha (the Honor Society). Her initial goal in college was to earn a degree in education and to teach algebra. That goal quickly changed and in 1973 graduated from the SUNY Oswego with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary (N-9) Education with a minor in psychology.
Adulthood
One week following graduation she married her college roommate's brother William "Bill" Hansen and immediately embarked on a road trip along the eastern seaboard to Florida and then west to San Antonio, Texas where Bill was a medical technician in the Air Force.
While in San Antonio, Michele gave birth to their only child, a son, Christopher William.
In June of 1976 the family moved to Shalimar in the Florida panhandle. In 1980 Bill became a civilian, Chris started kindergarten and Michele began a ten and one-half year career with KinderCare Learning Center; starting as a part time teacher, and after 3 and one-half years, on up to a Director of a brand new KinderCare in Valparaiso.
In 1990-91 Bill moved the family to Gainesville for a new job and Michele began her second career as a State Employee working at the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services as an accounts payable clerk and then promoting to a fiscal assistant in the budget office. Another job change in 1995 sent Michele and Bill (Chris was in college in Pensacola) to DeLand near Daytona Beach. She was employed as a payroll tech at Tomoka Correctional Institution. And, most recently, in August, 1999 another move (and hopefully, the last) due to a job change sent Michele and Bill back to the Florida panhandle but this time to Tallahassee. The most exciting thing about the move was that she was finally living in a town with her big sister, Angela and her husband, Jim St. John.
The Deptartment of Corrections made some big changes. At first, a good one - a personnel service center in Tallahassee. Less than a year later it was closed but Michele was able to get another job with the Department of Revenue also in personnel. In 2002 when State Personnel was privatized, Michele went to work in the Department of Revenue's Resource Management unit where she is involved with survey administration and project management. In 2010 she went back to work in Personnel.
Michele has found a fair talent in watercolor art. She enjoys reading Stephen King and Janet Evanovich, collecting angels and watching the birds in her back yard. But when all is said and done, her son will always be her greatest accomplishment.
William Hansen
William "Bill" Hansen was born to Wilma and Norman Hansen from Montezuma, NY. He earned an AA degree from Auburn Community College and a BS degree with a double major in History and Political Science. Bill met Michele when he chanced to meet one of his sister's roommates as he helped his sister move into her dorm. Seven months later they were engaged and two and a half years later on June 9, 1973 were married. Bill was promoted from Airman through to Staff Sergeant in the 8 years he was enlisted in the Air Force. He was a medical technician at Wilford Hall Medical Center (San Antonio) in the ICU and the NCO in charge of the ICU at the Eglin Air Force Base hospital. When he ended his military service he drove ambulance for Okaloosa County for over a year and then for 11 years was a firefighter gaining the rank of Lieutenant. All during the time of his enlistment and as a firefighter, Bill continued his thirst for knowledge and received another BS degree in Fire Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Troy State University. The move to Gainesville was to become a Battalion Chief at the Florida State Fire College instructing various firefighting courses and earning a Fire Marshal license. The move to DeLand was to accept a position as Hazardous Materials Coordinator for Volusia County. Since their move to Tallahassee in 1999, Bill taught emergency planning at the Division of Emergency Management with the Department of Community Affairs, and is now in the bureau of emergency operations with the Florida Department of Health.
Bill is an avid landscaper/gardener and joins Michele watching the 40 different species of birds in their back yard.
Synopsis of Dates
Recipes
External Links
- Photo Gallery - The photo gallery hosted on Webshots.
