Alaine Mary (Sckerl) Hanna

Alaine S. Hanna, 80, passed peacefully on October 28, 2018 with her husband by her side. Also, in loving, continuous attendance during her last week, were her sons, daughter-in-law, and her two granddaughters whom she greatly cherished, having never had a sister or daughter herself.
Born December 6, 1937 in Britton, SD, Alaine was the daughter of the late Alfred M. Sckerl and Lorraine Harris  Sckerl for whom she was cleverly named. Moving to Atlanta in 1950 with her family, which now included a younger brother, Herb, she attended Bass High School.  She excelled not only in academics, but in music. Having studied piano for several years, she had become an accomplished artist and played throughout her years for all of the Bass choral groups. She also learned the organ which she often played for church. Cheerleading became a favorite pastime as well, and she earned letters for each of her three years on the varsity squad.
Alaine married her high school sweetheart, Jim Hanna, in march of 1959. They had been together since the 9th grade.  January of 1960 brought the arrival of their first son, Jimmy (Jr.)  Jim, Sr. graduated six months later from Georgia Tech, and the family moved to Aiken, South Carolina where their second son, Mark, was born, and where Jim, Sr. was stationed for military service.
After completing her service as an Army Lieutenant’s wife in 1962, the family moved to New Jersey where Jim’s new job took them. The family then moved two more times with job changes before ending up in Athens, Georgia in 1973. Here, with the kids older and in school, Alaine was able to return to college, and in 1976, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia, majoring in Microbiology.
After that, she worked as the Athens Regional pathology lab supervisor and later earned a Master’s of Social Work and was employed first at St. Mary’s Home Health Care, then later transferred to Hospice.
During these years the couple had started traveling abroad some, initially meeting and traveling around Europe with their oldest son who was stationed in Germany. Then they spent two summers in Cortona, Italy as part of the UGA Art School’s Studies Abroad Program.   In 1998, they both retired, but Alaine continued with volunteer work which she had started earlier as a Hospice volunteer. She also ushered for several years at UGA-sponsored concert performances. The retired couple now had more freedom to pursue their passion for foreign travel. Early on, Jim was asked to teach again in another UGA Studies Abroad program during the next two Fall semesters, this time in Avignon, France. Many more travels would follow in the next 20 years, which they savored with gusto.
Survivors include her husband, Jim; two sons, Jim, Jr. and Mark (Julie); two granddaughters, Wendy H. Sparks (Charlie) and Lori Hanna; a brother, Herb Sckerl (Marilyn); two brothers-in-law, Rev. Paul Hanna and Bill Hanna; and numerous nieces and nephews.  In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to St. Mary’s Hospice House, 1660 Jennings Mill Rd., Watkinsville, GA 30622, 706-425-2525
A visitation of family and friends will be held at the Lord and Stephens (East) Funeral Home, 4355 Lexington Road, on Sunday, November 11th,  between 1:30 and 3:30 pm.

Lord and Stephens East is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com