Mary Cecelia (Finn) Hancock

Mary was born and raised on a farm in Emmetsburg, Iowa during the Great Depression. She graduated as an RN in 1940 and practiced nursing in Kansas City, Mo., before enlisting in the Navy Nurses Core in 1943. She (and three brothers) served during WWII, was stationed at Pearl Harbor, and personally thanked for her service by President Roosevelt. She separated from active duty in 1945, and thereafter married Edward (Tony) Hancock in Beverly Hills. The two settled in Sacramento CA in 1953, and raised 5 children. Mary was preceded in death by her siblings, husband Tony, children John and Patti Hancock (& Harris Ravine), & great grand-daughter “sweet” Caroline. She is survived by children Nora (Hancock) Quartuccio, Joan Hancock (Kathryn Jett), Barbara Hancock, daughter-in-law Theresa Hancock; grandchildren Nicole (Kevin Ring), Dr. Christine (Ryan Carran), Benjamin & Elizabeth Anderson, John, Mary Claire & Emily Hancock; and great grandchildren Nathan, Collin & Cameron, and many nieces and nephews. Mary was gracious in every way and led an exemplary life committed to service for family, community, church and country. 100% Irish, Mary tended to and prayed for those who suffered, she never complained and accepted life on its terms, she was beautiful inside and out, and a true hero.

Donations in Mary’s honor may be sent to St. Ignatius Loyola Church.

Stories from the early days on the farm in Iowa: 

Few of us will ever understand what it was like to grow up on a farm in Iowa during the depression without running water or electricity or a bathroom in the house. Or what it might be like to heat up stones to be placed in one’s bed to stay warm at night during those freezing winters. I remember other stories about Mom’s youth: 

Corn grew high in the late summer and the kids all had to wear red hats to be seen by Mama Finn when they would go pick it or play in it. 

She and her brothers and sisters would often trudge through the snow for 2 miles to and from a 1-room schoolhouse in the winter. Once there the kids would set their lunch (2 potatoes) on the floor heater so they would be ready to eat at lunch time. 

Back then there were the 17 people (the Finn family of 8, cousins they took in and the farm hands) who sat down to dinner together every night. This was the depression and the bounty from the farm fed everyone. 

Many stories about our mother are in someway linked to her service during World War II as a nurse in the Navy, here are just a couple. 

Several years ago the Veterans History Project was launched throughout the nation. Project members found there way to Sacramento with the intent of interviewing WWII Veterans. 

When Mom heard about this she agreed to a verbal interview. She had also written her war story and submitted it to the interviewer who would forward it to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. to be added to the collection of war memoirs of other WWII Veterans for posterity.

In 2004, we traveled to D.C. for the dedication of the World War II memorial. We did

a bit of sight-seeing as well. At the National Archives we searched for some films she appeared in at the request of her Commanding Officer. These films were made for war bond drives which supported the war effort. We saw many famous sights, but Mom seemed intent that we see the Library of Congress. I remember the many stone steps leading up to that historic building and watched as she pushed ahead of me and proceeded up those steps with the determination of real patriot. I thought we were just sight seeing, but she had other designs. 

All of a sudden she pulled several papers out of her large purse and when I asked what she was doing she said I just want to them to get it right. It seems as though the account of her wartime memories she gave to the interviewer in Sacramento had inaccurately reported an important detail. It was in that moment that I realized the real purpose of our trip to D.C. “was to straighten things out!”

We had a great time, at Ebbits grill she met the Secretary of Defense and other D.C. officials … she beamed when I informed them of her service to our country… they thanked her with genuine respect. 

Our Mom is a nurse, a patriot, an athlete, a believer, a hard worker, a patient and kind woman, friend to many. She’s a miracle!