Palma Hanson passed away peacefully on May 21 with the love of family surrounding he family. Born on June 18, 1916 in Dover Plains, NY to Ralph and Rosa Ambrosio she was just shy of her 97th birthday. A proud first generation Italian American, Palma grew up on Maiden Lane in Chatham. She entered the first grade not speaking a word of English yet at the beginning of fourth grade had mastered the curriculum to the extent that she skipped ahead to the fifth. She continued as a promising student graduating from the eighth grade with high honors on her fourteenth birthday. Unfortunately her formal education ended there. Because her mother had died several years earlier, as the oldest daughter she was needed at home to care for her four younger siblings. In 1938 she married Thomas F Hanson at St James RC church in Chatham where she was a communicant at the time of her death. She moved with her new husband to the Hanson homestead in Old Chatham where together they raised eight children, he working as a carpenter and she as a seamstress. After his death in 1974 she became a full time Home Health Aid caring for many ill and elderly in the community. Palma mastered many skills, she was a wonderful cook and avid gardener. She crafted dozens of afghans for patients at the VA hospital and created dozens more for new babies. She was a news junkie and self-proclaimed "blooming liberal"  who delighted in political debate and believed in equal rights for everyone. Born before women had the right to vote, she strove to be well informed and to never miss an election. She last voted in the Chatham Village election in March of this year filing her absentee ballot from her home in Chatham where she had lived independently for the last 17 years. One of her proudest experiences was serving on a Federal Grand Jury. A life long learner, in June of 2006, on her 90th birthday, she received an honorary diploma from Chatham Central School. Palma reserved her greatest passion for her family.She leaves behind her three daughters, Ann Marie Stanton of Baltimore Md, Rita (Ron) Van Alstyne of Spencertown, and Maggie (Birge) Calhoun of Chatham, her daughter-in-law Carol Hanson of Old Chatham, three sons; Michael Hanson (Vikki Blizzard) of Monroe, N.C., Thomas (Terri) Hanson of Madison, Ct., Paul Hanson and Paul's wife and Palma's closest friend and "Angel" Sherri Hanson of Old Chatham, her beloved grandchildren include: Maureen (Sean) Davis, Moira (Kevin) Tokarik, Theresa Stanton, Baron Hanson, Sarah Sullivan, Joshua (Jessie) Van Alstyne, Jacob (Kate) Van Alstyne, Amanda (Andrew Smith) Van Alstyne, Keith (Elaine) Van Alstyne, Sean (Desiree) Hanson, Erin (Andrew) Baker, Thomas (Monika) Hanson, Lyndsie (Brian Ackerly) Hanson, Ashley (John Macagnone)Hanson, Zac (Allison) Calhoun, William (Meghan) Calhoun, Hannah Calhoun, and Quinn Calhoun, she also leaves behind twenty great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband of 36 years she was predeceased by two sisters Francis (Frank) Bolinsky and Louise Ambrosio, two brothers Louis (Margaret) and Angelo (Antoinette) Ambrosio and her beloved children Rosemary and Ralph Hanson. As per her request there will be no calling hours and internment will be private. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date. Donations in Palma's memory may be made to Community Hospice of Columbia Green. Online condolences may be conveyed at www.frenchblasl.com.