Ingrid Faith (Larsen) Hanka

Ingrid Faith Larsen Hanka, 50, passed away at her home surrounded by her boys. Beloved wife and mother of two. Daughter and youngest of four children of Theresa Coyle Larsen and Lambert Larsen.

Ingrid leaves behind her Husband Erik Hanka, Her sons Scott Hanka and Noah Hanka, Sisters Cecile Larsen, Karen Larsen Hawes, and Dawn Larsen. 

Ingrid grew up and lived in Mansfield her whole life. After high school, Ingrid enrolled and graduated from the CT LPN nursing program and 10 years later went back to school and graduated from Three Rivers Community College with an RN degree. She worked in many nursing positions throughout her 29 years, from nursing homes, surgical offices, to CT. DMS group homes, but her most rewarding and favorite role was that of Mrs. Hanka, the school nurse for Southeast Elementary School in Mansfield Center. She worked there for 12 years prior to her retirement, but that’s not what defined Ingrid.

Despite all of her education and work, Ingrid still set aside all the time in the world for raising her 2 boys. Taking them out on field trips and adventures as often as she could. Beach days, museums, aquariums, or even just trips to the UConn Dairy Bar. Ingrid was both a mother, and a best friend to her children. There is no one in the world she loves more.

If you were blessed to have known her then you know. Ingrid loved and cared for everyone and everything in a way most people aren’t capable of. She genuinely cared not just about you but everything about you and what was going on in your life. She cared about your family, your friends, your pets, and even your sister in law's friend's half cousin. She cared about all of it and how it affected you. Making it a priority to reach out and make sure you feel loved on holidays, your birthday, or just any random day of the week.

She was the planner. There was no missing out on something with Ingrid. She made sure events would be organized, and you would be there. She would always square away time in her schedule to meet up with you for lunch, go out to have a drink with you, or talk if you needed it. Your problems were her problems. Her friends and family can all attest to that.

 A lover and fierce defender of all thing’s nature, especially the furry and feathered ones. There wasn’t a plant, animal or even insect Ingrid would not stop and take the time to help. Hiking up her favorite trails on Coney Rock often in the dark to catch sunrise was her place of peace, prayer, and meditation. Where she could feel closest to God and all of his creations. Home bird watching, strolling her gardens around the yard with her dogs, and enjoying her pool were Ingrid’s favorite things to do. If the weather was nice that’s where you would find her, waving and chatting with the neighbors that drove or walked by.

Then there was Disney. Ingrid openly admitted she had a Disney problem. A Disney vacation was the best vacation in the world and no one was ever going to convince her otherwise. Often visiting a few times a year and don’t even get her going on a Disney cruise. It is her happy place, her place of fantasy where the outside world doesn’t exist and everything is just happiness and joy.

A funeral mass will be held for Ingrid on Monday, April 15th at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel, 46 N Eagleville Road, Storrs beginning at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Connecticut Humane society: https://cthumane.org/ways-to-give/ to continue helping giving pets their furever home.

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