Gweneth H. (Jardine) Hannon, 97, passed away on Monday, May 14 at the Holy Family Hospital at Merrimack Valley after a day of shopping and lunch. She fractured her hip and passed peacefully with family by her side.
She was born Dec. 26, 1920 on Chatham, New Brunswick Canada to Harry and Jane (Travis) Jardine. As a toddler she moved to Medford and later to Haverhill, where she was a lifelong resident. She married Harry (Roy) Hannon on Oct. 3, 1942 and then spent three years alone until his return from the European theatre of WWII. They purchased their two-family home in Haverhill and her parents lived upstairs. Hannon cared for both her parents in their later years.
In April of 1947, she gave birth to her only child, her son, Bobby. Roy died when Bob was 25 and Hannon and her son cared for each other all his life. Bobby died in 2008.
Christmas Day was always special at the Hannon house. She and Bobby labored for days and fed a household of family and friends, with a case of champagne chilling on the front porch. It was a memorable event for their guests and it brought her great joy, as she was a fantastic cook.
Hannon drove until two years ago and lived independently alone with her dog until September 2017 when she moved to Stevens Bennett Home. She was loved by the staff and residents alike and she loved them in return. It was a blessing that she made many new friends well into her 90s, which is a testament to her wonderful nature.
She loved animals of all types and always had a dog in her home. You could see Hannon walking her dog in the neighborhood, where she was well known, loved and looked after by her neighbors, who would help her by doing yard work shoveling when needed. The family sends a special thanks to Mary and the G.Raffs staff who helped her when she had a bad day.
Hannon had many talents which she shared with family and friends. She made beautiful quilts, knitted and crocheted. Her scotch cakes were always requested by family and her church, which she would bring in her old wicker picnic basket to every event.
She will always be remembered for her wit, dry sense of humor, laugh and smile. Never one to complain, she found the silver lining on every cloud. She was a grateful person and God had mercy when he made her last hours free from suffering.
Hannon was predeceased by her parents; her husband and son; and her two brothers Chas and Bub (Charlie and Warren). She leaves two nephews, James Jardine of Andover and Jeffery Jardine of Haverhill, two nieces, Pam Desando of Haverhill and Pat Jardine of Groveland and her husband Jack. She loved her grandnieces Jaden, Tamara and Jenny and her grandnephews Charlie, Peter, Ralph, and Michael. The Francis family, Shelley Wilkins, Phyllis Watson and her daughters, Cara and Kate were very special to her and she treated them like her own.
She was the matriarch and oldest member at the First Presbyterian Church. Much gratitude is felt towards her church family for the rides to church on Sundays and being her eternal friends. She is now resting in eternal happiness with Roy, Bobby, her parents, her brothers and all those who passed before her.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Thursday, May 24 from 10-11 a.m. at the H.L. Farmer and Sons Funeral Home, 106 Summer St., Haverhill. Her funeral service will follow at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Linwood Cemetery.