September 14, 1922 - April 15, 2025
With grace, Shirley Carolyn Hanken (née Phillips) of Doylestown, Pennsylvania peacefully passed away on April 15, 2025 ,at the age of 102 years plus seven months and one day as she would most definitely want known. She spent her final week sharing memories and last goodbyes with loved ones.
Shirley was born at home in Pittsfield, Massachusetts to parents Stephen Austin Phillips and Helen Clara Phillips (née Schink). Just four pounds and blue she was resuscitated and cradled in a dresser drawer which probably contributed to her strong will.
At Milford (Connecticut) High School she met the love of her life Robert “Bob” Louis Hanken. They married and together reared six children, Janice, Sandra, Kathie, Patricia, Kerry and Jonathan. As a war time bride raising a growing family, she mastered homemaking skills including knitting and sewing, gardening, putting up food, and with Bob constructing a home and small barn for adopted 4H animals.
Shirley bravely followed Bob’s job relocation to British Columbia causing her offspring to endure 3,000 miles together in a station wagon, winding up in Tsawwassen and Point Roberts. Inspired by botanical gardens in B.C., she and Bob started the garden foundation that would later become a gorgeous garden oasis with Japanese elements.
With new friends of many nationalities Shirley learned about Scandinavian, Indonesian, and Chinese cooking, passing her adventurous culinary techniques to her children. Camping trips to Deception Pass, dipping in frigid water, hiking in the Cascades, visits to Stanley Park for fish and chips, taking the ferry to see Butchart Gardens were just a few of Shirley’s passions. She did lots of meticulous gardening and could grow anything. She sprouted plants from seeds and trimmings she gathered from friends and travels. After Bob passed away in 2007, Shirley moved to be near her sister in South Carolina, eventually winding up in Doylestown, Pennsylvania in another lovely park-like setting and with one of her daughters and son-in-law nearby.
Shirley was very good natured and patient. Her memory was extremely sharp at remembering poems, numbers, places and events with accuracy spanning nearly a century. She saw the Hindenburg fly overhead as a girl. She was determined, calling on her inner voice “Shirley the Brave” when things got tough. She was very frugal, kind, funny and strong, loved the water like a fish, and she loved storms, calling the family outside to observe when one approached. Shirley was ready to be free and prepared her family so she could be on the road again with her beloved Bob in RV heaven.
Shirley will always be lovingly remembered by her five surviving children and their spouses, six grandchildren and their spouses, five great-grandchildren, her surviving sister, niece and nephew and dear friends on the east and west coasts. She will be missed by many – everyone who met her!
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to The National Audubon Society (audubon.org) or by planting a living tree.
Please send condolences to varcoethomasfuneralhome.com.
