Geneva L. Hanna's Obituary
Geneva Lois Lineberger Hanna passed peacefully into the arms of God on January 18, 2024, and sat down at a bridge table for her first heavenly hand.
Born December 23, 1930, to Jason Loy and Lois Alena Thornburg Lineberger, Geneva lived the majority of her years in Gastonia. She attended Gastonia High School (1949) and then majored in home economics at Women’s College in Greensboro (1953). She married Carl Norris Hanna in August 1953, and their marriage of 62 years was filled with memories until his death in May 2016.
Geneva’s life was defined by service. She taught high school and junior high school for 33 years in Gaston County. While teaching junior high, she graduated from Winthrop with a Masters in Science (1989). After marriage, she joined Linden ARP Church and served in various roles - Sunday School and Bible School teacher, Officer in the Women of the Church, Deacon, Young at Heart, organist, and choir member. When the church built the new educational building, she made draperies for every room and decorated various spaces. She was a constant support and mentor for her family, friends, school colleagues, and students.
The one thing Geneva always did as service - sew. She learned to sew from her mother and other relatives growing up in Lutheran Chapel Church. It was an endless line of cloth bags at Geneva’s house - dresses, shirts, suits, skirts, wedding and bridesmaid dresses, drapes, quilts, tablecloths - if it could be made or altered, Geneva took on the challenge. Many dresses were hemmed on the way to an event or en route to the church!
After retirement, Geneva pursued her passions - traveling and bridge. The “G” in Geneva meant “GO!” Her daughter made an index card with the days of the week and weeks of the month in order to keep up with “Mama’s” schedule! Geneva traveled to six of the seven continents. Her favorite memories and tales always involved the food and shopping from her adventure destinations. Besides church activities, Home Trail and duplicate bridge filled her days when she stayed home. There were weeks when Geneva played bridge daily, and she could recount the best hands and who misplayed at the tables. She particularly enjoyed the holidays and hosting her various bridge and church groups at home for meals and fellowship.
Geneva is survived by her daughters Pam Hanna (Helen Smith) and Jane Welch (Steve). She is also survived by her grandchildren and two great-grandchildren - Jessica Welch (Parker Helble); Adrienne Sudbury (Zeke), parents of twins Cora and Liam; and Marshall Welch (Kayla). Two siblings also survive Geneva - J. Rufus Lineberger (Carolyn) and Martha Bouknight (Frank) - as well as many nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at Morningside of Gastonia (2015-2018), Autumn Care in Cornelius, and the care team from Hospice and Palliative Care Lake Norman.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078. The family will receive friends after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered to Hospice and Palliative Care Lake Norman, 705 Griffith Street, Suite 203, Davidson, NC 28036.
Arrangements are in the care of James Funeral Home at the address above. Online condolences may be shared at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com/obituaries/Geneva-Hanna/#!/TributeWall.
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