Hannah Ratcliff

Hannah Ratcliff was a loving wife, mother, and grandma. Her family was her greatest joy, and she was the happiest in their company. She was an optimistic woman, outgoing and eternally cheerful, and each day she tried to share her happiness with the many people she loved.

In the first years of the twentieth century, America was a much smaller country with a union of just forty-six states. Born on October 9, 1912, Hannah grew up alongside her country. She was a girl during the Great War, a young woman during the Roaring Twenties. She was married amid the harsh climate of the Great Depression, and she was a mother throughout the Second World War.

Hannah was born in Kilmanagh, Michigan, the daughter of Henry and Minnie (Gaeth) Cramer. The third and youngest child, Hannah grew up on the family farm with the company of her brothers Norman and Erwin. She had a typical rural childhood: she was busy with chores around the farm, working alongside her brothers and parents. The Cramer family lived next door to St. John Lutheran Church where Hannah received her spiritual education and also attended grade school. After completing the eighth grade she left school to work as a live-in housekeeper for a doctor.

In Bay City Hannah met a handsome young man named Dennis Ratcliff. They fell into an easy conversation and soon began dating. When he moved to Cleveland for a job opportunity, she went with him. They were married shortly thereafter, on November 19, 1932.

Hannah and Dennis spent the first few years of their marriage in Cleveland before returning to Bay City, where they were blessed with two daughters, Joan and Joyce. Hannah stopped working to devote herself fully to the tasks of being a wife, mother, and homemaker. She and Dennis moved once more, this time settling in Grand Rapids where he had found a job at Globe Knitting Works. Here they welcomed their third and final child, their daughter Denise.

Hannah dedicated her life to her family. She was very content to stay at home: there were always things to do, daily chores to keep her busy. She kept a regular schedule. Monday was the wash day, Tuesday was ironing, and on Saturdays she washed the floors. Dennis worked the third shift: he was often sleeping when the children went to school, and in the evening he was back at Globe Knitting Works. Consequently, Hannah was responsible for much of the child-raising. She was a natural mother, always compassionate, a disciplinarian when she needed to be. She was fussy about presentation: she liked a neat house, and she taught her children to look presentable and act politely. She allowed her children a good amount of independence, though she always insisted they stay within “calling distance” when they were playing in the neighborhood. Hannah was a good cook, competent with a variety of basic meals and occasionally experimenting with something new. She had a curious palette and enjoyed all types of food. Her children didn’t like everything that came out of her kitchen, but she never forced a meal on them, although she did insist they at least try it.

Hannah always looked forward to Saturday evenings. In the early days of her marriage, she and Dennis spent Saturday night playing games with friends and dancing to the music of a fiddle. In later years, Saturday night was reserved for card games, usually euchre, pinochle, or setback. Hannah was an easy woman to get know. She was outgoing, though never loud. She could talk—and would talk—to anyone, and her subtle sense of humor was a consistent charm.

After she wrapped up the day’s chores, Hannah enjoyed relaxing with a good book (Danielle Steele was a favorite author) or watching a soap opera. She followed the soaps for many years. Her children gradually realized that there was no point in calling when the soaps were on—although she often picked up the phone, you couldn’t get her full attention. She also occupied her time with several hobbies, including embroidery and crocheting. A skilled seamstress, she made many articles of clothing for her daughters when they were growing up. In recent years she focused on hats, afghans, and towels. She was extremely productive. Last year she donated over 150 hats to the Santa Claus Girls.

In her later life, Hannah was thrilled to see her family grow with the blessing of five grandchildren and several great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids. A doting grandma, Hannah spoiled them whenever she could. She always regarded her family as her greatest achievement. She wished the best for them, and she eagerly helped them in every way that she could. But she was powerless against certain obstacles. Her daughter Joan suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, and after a long battle she passed away in 1997. This was difficult on Hannah: she had watched her daughter fight this disease, worrying constantly as mothers will do. Dennis, meanwhile, was struggling with his health: he had Alzheimer’s, and after sixty-seven years of marriage he passed away in the year 2000. Remembering their many years together, Hannah realized that they’d never had a fight. She felt a void without him.

Hannah moved to Grandview Apartments where she made good friends with her neighbors. She played cards twice a week with the girls, and she remained an active member in her congregation. She was a devout Lutheran who faithfully attended three churches at different stages of her adult life: Immanuel Lutheran followed by Faith Lutheran and, most recently, Zion Lutheran.

Family was the center of Hannah’s life, her greatest priority. Like many of her generation, she was rather frugal. The Great Depression taught her the value of the dollar. She was content with what she had; she never threw anything out that might find a second use. She lived a simple life. She didn’t need the frills of extravagance: her family was her treasure, and in their warm company she had everything that she ever wanted.

Hannah was blessed with exceptional health. Throughout her long lifetime, she never once stayed in a hospital overnight. She wanted to live to see her ninety-fifth birthday—it didn’t matter what happened after that, she joked.

Hannah, age 95, died on January 5, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis, and by her daughter and son-in-law Joan and Dan Haggerty. Hannah is survived by her children, Joyce and Clyde Hastings, Denise and Chuck Raak; five grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, January 9 at 11 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 582 Lamoreaux Dr NW. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests that memorial contributions be made to either Zion Lutheran Church or to In House Hospice Solutions. Please visit Hannah’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may archive a favorite memory or sign the guestbook.