Lillian Doris Hansen

Lillian was born in El Campo on November 22, 1928 to Frances Trojcak Chaka and Frank John Chaka. A self-made woman, Lillian’s indomitable will and force of personality was forged from her childhood memories of depression-era life on the farm and coming-of-age during WWII. This upbringing shaped her, and she often told stories of her farm, her parents and her brothers, Edmund and Jerry Chaka. After graduation from El Campo High School, Class ‘45, Lillian’s first full time position was typesetting at the El Campo Leader News. Later, she moved up to become a proficient line-type setter. She was very proud of this position because as she put it, “you had to be proficient at words and sentence structure to master this skill.” She moved to another position at the paper becoming a society page reporter, reporting on weddings and other social events. She had a way with words and was able to describe a wedding dress with such detail that readers didn’t even need an invite to see the frills. In 1950, Lillian pivoted to a job as a legal secretary at Duckett, Bouligny and Collins Law Firm, then known as Duckett & Duckett. Lillian began her career there preparing legal documents, petitions, and loan documents. Lil was later promoted to manage the real estate loan closing department exclusively. After 50 years at the law firm, she retired in 2000. She loved her career at the office, was proud of her work, and was well respected by her peers. She developed a wealth of knowledge throughout those years. Fittingly, she acquired the nickname “Lawyer Lil”. She married Robert Gordon Hansen on April 18, 1949. In 1954, their family grew when their daughter, Leslie Marie, was born. As a family, they embarked on road trips, spent summers traveling the United States, Canada and Mexico. The trio logged a lifetime of memories together. Lillian and Robert spent their entire married life in El Campo until Robert passed away in 1995. Lillian was a proud member of the Catholic Daughters of the Court #1374. She joined the CDA court in September 1946, six months after the court was established. Her wit, humor, and strength gave her an insatiable drive to help others. She served in several capacities including Regent, District Deputy and assistant to the National Regent, and these roles and many others within the organization continued throughout her entire life. Seeking out Texas’s poor and underserved population, Lil and her co-chairman founded the State Project, Mission of Mercy in 2002. Throughout her life, she was aligned with helping those in need through various ways, donating her time and her energy to do as much for the underserved as she possibly could. For hobbies, Lillian enjoyed participating in bridge club, casino visits, dance club, Friday and Saturday night poker groups, and traveling the world. Most of all, she loved to travel. She and Robert enjoyed exploring the world together. In their life together, they saw every continent except Antarctica. When not traveling, her hobbies included sewing, puzzling, playing cards and reading voraciously. There was never a day that went by that she missed reading the Houston Chronicle “cover to cover”. Lillian always had a book or two that she was reading at the same time. She enjoyed volunteering as a Sunshine Lady at the El Campo Hospital. One of her favorite places to volunteer was at the El Campo Library where she enjoyed spending hours among the many titles. Lillian was proud to be an honorary member of The Guzzling Gourmets, a Championship Cook Off team led by Larry & Cathy Bittner. Always a moral supporter, she was honored to “help” them at the Houston Rodeo BBQ cookoff and enjoyed being able to “help'' compete in the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ Cookoff in Lynchburg Tennessee. She enjoyed her time on the team immensely. Her spirit of adventure and thirst for knowledge knew no bounds. Lillian is survived by her daughter, Leslie and husband Jay Schroder. Grandchildren: Reid Michael Schroder and wife Jessica Lewis Schroder, Camille Schroder Casey and husband Matthew, Marc Hansen Schroder and wife Ann Parker Schroder. Great grandchildren: Guy Philip Schroder, Maude Alice and Faye Leslie Casey, Parker Louis and Felix Hansen Schroder. Niece, Yvonne Chaka McCreery and Nephews James Chaka and wife Rilla, Sidney Chaka and wife, Cynthia and Thomas Chaka and fiancé Michele Ozuna. Numerous great-nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Frances Chaka. Her husband of 46 years, Robert Hansen. Her brothers, Edmund and wife Zora Chaka and Jerry and wife Evelyn Chaka. And by her nephew Ronald Chaka. The family would particularly like to recognize Lillian’s kind and loving caregivers at Vantage Hospice of Houston; Ana and Breanna. And many thanks to our extended family and friends for all their prayers, help and thoughtfulness. Thank you for going above and beyond. Her legacy comes from the countless lives she touched at home, church, work, organizations. The pride she had for her community and the love she shared with family will live on in our memories of Lillian. Visitation will begin from 8:00AM -9:30AM, Monday, November 20, 2023 at Triska Funeral Home. Visitation will be at 10:00AM, Monday at St. Philip Catholic Church with a CDA Rosary recited at 10:30AM and the Funeral Mass following at 11:00AM. Burial will be at Holy Cross Memorial Park. Memorial donations in memory of Lillian may be made to The Heritage Center of El Campo. P.O. Box 16, El Campo, TX. 77437. In mom’s own words; “to develop and grow a place for seniors to be active, social and productive in El Campo.” Lillian enjoyed The Heritage Center and felt she had “only just begun to enjoy and participate in the wonderful place we have right here in El Campo!”

Lillian Doris Hansen

November 22, 1928 - November 15, 2023

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

Lillian Doris Hansen

November 22, 1928 - November 15, 2023

365 Days of Grief Support

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information