Gessel Hansen

GESSEL HANSEN

Cedar Rapids

Gessel Ann Hansen, 51, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Friday, July 8, 2016, after a long, brave battle with breast cancer. A gathering of family and friends will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a sharing of memories at 4 p.m.

Survivors include her husband, Tom; stepdaughter, Andrea (Dennis) Sauser of Fairfax; granddaughter, Nicole; brother, Wennie Villaver of the Philippines; special cousin and caregiver, Jessel Dean of Marion; cousins, Elyra (Jerry) Sill of Springville, Teresita (Wayne) Hellman of Dubuque, Cassandra (Steve) Granger of Texas and Mary Jane (Mark) Gilmore of Las Vegas; uncle, Sonny Quijano of Texas; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

Gessel was born June 4, 1965, in Cebu, Philippines, to Lucricio and Olivia (Quijano) Villaver. She married Tom Hansen on Aug. 21, 1995, in Cebu. Gessel worked at Raining Rose. She enjoyed hobbies such as cooking Filipino foods to share with friends and family, fishing, and working outdoors during the summer.

Gessel never gave up during her long battle with breast cancer, and never stopped taking care of her husband and family in the Philippines. She is a hero to her family whose lives she impacted greatly.

She will be missed by all who loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Elmer and Vicente Villaver; and stepson, Jasen Hansen.

A memorial fund has been established in Gessel's name.

Please share your support and memories with Gessel's family on her tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.