Svend Hansen

Svend Aage Hansen Life Story (1923 – 2022 )

Svend was born in Haderslav Denmark and passed away peacefully at the George Derby Care Centre in Burnaby BC at 98 years of age. Svend was pre-deceased by his loving wife of 56 years, Edna (Doleman) in 2002, and brother Bill in 2010. Missing him greatly are his daughter Diana (Peter) Hiebert, son Donald Hansen (Victoria Chapman), grandchildren Jennifer Hiebert, Jessica Hiebert (João Faria) and Zachary (Olga) Hansen and great grand daughters, Lilly and Iris Hansen.

Svend lived a full and rewarding life and handled both challenges and prosperity with grace and good humour. As a young boy he emigrated to Canada with his parents and settled in Carnduff SK, where his Aunt and Uncle had settled when they came from Denmark a few years previously. Growing up he moved frequently with his father who worked on various farms during the depression of the 1930s, and he eventually moved to Calgary to finish high school and work for Model Dairies. After graduation, Svend and a couple of buddies were feeling patriotic and decided to join the navy, where he spent several years as a Coder on a Corvette and a Frigate escorting ships back and forth across the stormy North Atlantic. He often spoke about receiving and decoding the message that Germany had surrendered and that the war in the Atlantic was ended. He especially remembered the message “Splice the mainbrace”, which meant double tots of rum.

After being released from the navy, Svend enrolled at the University of Alberta and completed his undergraduate degree in Science (Agriculture) in 1950 and his Master's degree in 1952. During his time at University, he married Edna, whom he had met a year or so before, and they had a daughter Diana, who lived with them in University huts at the U of A in Edmonton. After completing his studies, they all returned to Calgary and he again went to work at Model Dairies, and during this time, Donald was born. Living in Calgary, Svend and Edna were very active raising their young family but still had time to be enthusiastic curlers and square dancers. The family remained there until 1966, when they pulled up stakes and moved to the west coast, where Svend became Manager of the Jersey Farms ice cream plant. When Jersey Farms was bought by Silverwood Dairies, Svend and Edna and Don moved again for a sojourn in London ON, where Svend managed the Silverwood ice cream plant, at that time the largest in Canada. They later returned to the west coast for Svend to take the position of Silverwood's Operations Manager for Western Canada for several years, before leaving Silverwood's and working as an independent consultant overseeing many food industry installations and renovations.

During Svend's adult life, he was always an enthusiastic participant and organizer for all of their activities, particularly their favourite recreation, square dancing. Svend and Edna enjoyed dancing and continued to dance for the next several decades. The highlight of their dancing was when Svend and Edna organized and were the Chair Couple for the 1990 World Square Dance convention held in Vancouver, with over 7000 participants. Later, when they moved from their house to a brand new condo, Svend became active with the building strata council, serving over the years as Treasurer, and his experience in the dairy industry allowed him to be to be conversant with the mechanical operations of the strata and he looked after those operations for many years. During his time there he established friendships with many of the residents, which continued until his passing.

Svend was immensely proud of his family and was very interested in the activities and careers of his children and grandchildren. Many of his happiest memories were of celebrations with the family. He made extra efforts to establish and maintain contact with distant relatives and friends, having over the years re-established connections with faraway relatives in Denmark and England, many of whom travelled here to visit and even to celebrate with him on his 90th birthday. He was indeed the catalyst for the relationships that were formed with many overseas relatives.

After Edna passed away, Svend became involved with the “Memories Project”, a program of the Dept of Veterans Affairs whereby veterans would attend school assemblies and other community gatherings around Remembrance Day to relate stories of their time in the war and to educate and remind people of the sacrifices made by Canadians defending Canada during times of military confrontations. He often mentioned that his favourite audiences were school students, who showed a great interest and asked many thoughtful questions. Svend was an excellent speaker and received many accolades for his presentations over the years.

Even in the later stages of his life when his physical health was failing, he maintained an active mind and an interest in family connections, always making contact with friends and relatives by telephone, never missing a birthday or other special occasion. He was a great influence on all of us and will be remembered as a wonderful Dad and Papa. We are all very thankful to have had him in our lives for so many wonderful years and he will be greatly missed.

Svend's family invites friends to join us in a funeral service to be held on Saturday, June 18th at 11:00 am. The service will be held in person, masks mandatory during the service, at Inlet United Church (formerly St. Andrew's) at 2315 Spring Street, Port Moody BC V3H1Y9. (Underground and street parking available) The service will also be held remotely via Zoom (pls contact the church at 604-939-5513 for details)
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Grateful Heart Foundation or a charity of your choice. More about Svend's life can be found, and condolences and tributes may be sent to the family by visiting  https://www.burquitlamfuneralhome.ca/memorials/svend-hansen/4926247/index.php 



In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the  The Grateful Heart Foundation.