On Wednesday July 8, 2026, Gerda Elizabeth Mueller Hanson, of Vernon, Connecticut, passed away at the age of 86 from a long battle with cancer. She was born in Osijek, Yugoslavia in January 17, 1940, now known as Croatia, to Charles and Ella Mueller. She is predeceased by her husband Leonard Alden Hanson Sr. and is survived by two children Christina Burkert of Murfreesboro Tennessee and Leonard Alden Hanson Jr of Houston Texas. Gerda is also survived by two grandchildren, Lauren Burkert of Charlotte North Carolina and Miranda Burkert of Murfreesboro Tennessee.

Gerda came to the United States in 1951 after her family were forced to leave Yugoslavia in 1943 due to World War II. Her family had immigrated to Altheim Austria. Living as refugees wasn’t easy during this time. The family traded and bartered for the means to survive in camps and barracks. However, Gerda did attend grade school at Volks and Hauptschule School in Altheim. In 1951, the family received sponsorship from relatives in the United States for the issuance of their immigration visas. They sailed to the United States on the naval ship the U.S.N.S. General C.H. Muir just as other refugees and displaced persons from Europe following World War II. Once in the United States, the family settled in Bridgeport Connecticut where she attended St. Ann’s School and was a graduate of Bassick High School. She worked for Bridgeport Gas Company and it was there that she met her future husband. After they wed they made their home along Lake Zoar in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Gerda worked for the Berol Corporation in Danbury Connecticut until the company closed in 1987. She then went on to work for Gateway Bank in Newtown Connecticut and then United Healthcare for 19 years ultimately retiring in 2021 due to health problems that later resulted in her cancer diagnosis.

Gerda had many hobbies during her childhood such as sewing, knitting and crocheting. In later years she expanded her sewing expertise to include quilting. Her other passion was cooking. Those recipes were passed down to her family and will be cherished. Her collection of cookbooks expanded into a total of 500 books and her collection of individual recipes were numerous.

Gerda lived her final years at an assisted living facility known as Welles Country Village. She spoke very highly of the staff and their quality of care. Her care at St Francis Hospital with the oncology and radiation department gave her hope and great care while she battled cancer. She fought it every step of the way until she couldn’t any longer.

Services for Gerda will be private. Donations can be made to Welles Country Village by calling 860-646-8782 or Saint Francis Foundation, 95 Woodland Street, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT 06105. To leave an online condolence please visit www.manchesterfh.com