Francis R. Hanson, of Ghent, passed into Eternal Life of Sunday afternoon, April 15, 2012 in hospice at the Whittier Nursing Home. Born on August 15, 1938, he is the beloved son of the late John J. and Hilda Smith Hanson. He attended the New Britain One-Room-Elementary School and Chatham Elementary in his early years and then became a faithful farmhand on his Uncle's dairy farm for over 30 years, until the farm was closed down and the cows sold in 1983. In 1999 he entered the COARC program in Mellenville where he worked for some 10 years. In 2007 he moved form Old Chatham to the Whittier Adult Home in Ghent. Francis is survived by his devoted brothers, Brother Bernard Hanson, FSC of La Salle School, Albany and James J. (Joanne) Hanson of Old Chatham, and his sister, Patricia Ann Hanson of Old Chatham , NY. Other survivors include his two nephews, James A. (Pamela) Hanson of Old Chatham, and Robert K. (Anita) Hanson of Schodack, four grand-nieces: Michela, Taylor, Kamryn, and Chiara Hanson, his aunt, Palma Hanson of Chatham; and cousins; Mary Tomchik of Troy, Thomas (Regina) Hanson of Schodack, Sr. Madeline Hanson, SSND of Bergenfield, NJ, Margaret (Dale) French of Nassau, William (Judy) Hanson of Canaan, Henry (Patricia) Binzer of Glenmont, Anne Marie Stanton of Baltimore, MD, Michael J. Hanson of Matthews, NC, Rita (Ronald) Van Alstyne of Spencertown, Thomas (Theresa) Hanson of Madison, CT, Paul (Sheri) Hanson of Old Chatham, Margaret (Birge) Calhoun of Chatham, Richard (Mary) Smith of Schenectady, Charles and Robert (Patricia) Smith of Pittsfield, MA, Carol (Eugene) Stone, Beverley and Diane Smith of Pittsfield, MA, Kenneth Smith of New Lebanon, June Baumli of New Lebanon, Sandra (Richard) Simpson of Lake George, and Linda (Donald) Allen of Warwick, RI. Calling hours will be Tuesday, April 17th from 4-7 pm at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday April 18th at 9:30am at Saint James Church, Chatham. Interment will follow at St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Valatie, NY. Contributions in Francis' memory may be made to the Columbia/Greene Humane Society or to the Greenport Rescue Squad. For direction or to send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com