Florence Hanley

Funeral services for Florence D. Hanley will be held Saturday, March 16th at 10am in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Killeen followed immediately by graveside services at Killeen City Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband. Visitation followed by a Rosary Service will be held Friday at 6-8pm at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Killeen.
Ms. Hanley died on March 8th at Indian Oaks Nursing Facility following a lengthy rehabilitation after suffering a compound fracture of her leg that occurred in mid-November at her home at The Veranda at Twin Creek.
Born Florence Fredonna Dickinson on November 11, 1927 in Rapid City South Dakota to Fred and Nellie Dickinson, "Dickie", as she was known back then, was the fifth of six children. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Edward, George & Gerald and sister Lucille and survived by her younger sister Julia who resides in Maumee Ohio. She was also preceded in death by her husband Gerald and sons John Francis and James Robert Hanley. She is also survived by her sons Daniel Patrick, his wife Donna and his son Geoffrey Hanley, Thomas Anthony, his wife Patricia and their daughters Brigid Morell and Brett Hanley and Michael Joseph, his wife Andrea ("Dede") and their children Diane and Ben Hanley and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Following her graduation from Immaculate Conception High School in Rapid City South Dakota, Florence enlisted in the Woman's Army Corps on 7 July 1949 and was sent for basic training at Camp Lee in Virginia and later assigned to Camp Stoneman in California before being detailed to the WAC detachment in the 8064th Army Unit in Yokohama Japan. Florence met and married Gerald Thomas Hanley, a young NCO from Providence Rhode Island who was assigned to the Japan Logistical Command. Following Florence's honorary discharge from the Army, the family welcomed the arrival of sons Daniel (1951) and Thomas (1953). In January 1954, Gerald was assigned to Murphy Army Hospital in Boston Massachusetts and in August 1954 the family welcomed their third son, Michael. Another new year invited yet another new assignment when Sgt. Hanley was transferred to Brooke General Hospital in Fort Sam Houston Texas, where the family ultimately welcomed the arrivals of John (1956) and Jim (1957).
The family arrived in Killeen/Ft. Hood in 1959, joined St. Joseph's Catholic Community, enrolling Daniel and Thomas in school and Florence and Gerald in the support groups and fraternal orders existing at that time. By 1963 all five boys were enrolled in St. Joseph's Catholic School and ultimately all became Knights of the Altar, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and a few were baseball players for the St. Joe's Tigers. At that time, it was not unusual to organize a pickup game of baseball or basketball when a few of Flo's boys were in the neighborhood.
Florence Hanley has been a fixture in the community for 60 years. Following the enrollment of her youngest (Jim) at St. Joseph's Catholic School, she joined Army Civil Service in Fort Hood, working initially in support of the Army Signal Corps, which managed all communications and Information Technology systems and at that time was supporting the war efforts in Vietnam by developing and providing training films to support the 2nd Armored Division command. During this time, she also commenced a community service commitment that endured through the years. She served as a "Den Mother" to each of the boy's Cub Scout Troops (#128), supported the creation of a sustained program of classes in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) and proudly served in various leadership positions in the PTA and Altar Rosary Society. She participated in the founding of the Knight Cappers, the Women's Auxiliary to the Knights of Columbus and worked to inspire a commitment to volunteerism in her Catholic Community at St. Josephs. She served as President of the Church Women United of Killeen, a multi-denominational organization of Christian Religions whose mission is to be a racially, culturally and theologically inclusive Christian women's movement celebrating unity in diversity and working for a world of peace and justice, specifically for women and children.
Florence was a tremendous inspiration to those who knew her. She lived a life of community, she practiced what she taught and didn't mince words. She leaves behind a legacy that exhibits a devotion to faith and family through community involvement that focuses on inclusiveness.

Visitation

HarperTalasek Chapel
506 N. 38th Street
Killeen, TX  76543
Friday, March 15, 2019
6-8 pm with a rosary at 7 pm

Service

Saint Joseph Catholic Church
2903 E Rancier
Killeen, TX  76543
Saturday, March 16, 2019
10:00 am

Cemetery

Killeen City Cemetery
2800 E. Rancier Ave
Killeen, TX  76543