January 12, 1945 – November 10, 2026
Charlotte
Necrason Hanson, 81, of Oneonta, passed away unexpectedly on November 10, 2026,
at Bassett Hospital. A cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister
and friend, she will be deeply missed.
Charlotte was
born on January 12, 1945, in Cooperstown, to Edmund Joseph Necrason and
Charlotte Pierson Necrason, arriving alongside her twin sister, Tina, who
remained her closest friend and confidante throughout her life. Growing up, Charlotte
had a mischievous streak, much to the consternation of her teachers who more
than once had reason to call her parents. She was also an accomplished young
rider, winning ribbons and prizes in the show ring on her horse, Davy Crockett.
She graduated from Milford Central High School and went on to study at the
State University of New York at Oneonta.
In 1965 she
married Conrad Hanson; they later divorced. Left to raise three young sons on
her own with very little, Charlotte worked hard for years to provide for them.
Money was often tight, but she met hard times with grit, resiliency, love and
more than a little humor. Her boys kept her hands full, often showing the same
knack for getting in trouble as she had in her youth. They all went on to lead
successful lives as adults, and raising them was among her proudest
accomplishments.
Charlotte spent
much of her working life caring for others, first at the Upstate Home for
Children (now Springbrook) and later at ARC residential programs for adults
with developmental disabilities. She treated the people in her care exactly as
she treated everyone else, with warmth, humor and respect, and not defined by
their disabilities.
She had a
lifelong curiosity about the world and took a keen interest in people, whether
old friends, her grandchildren, or someone she had just met, and she could be
perfectly happy simply people-watching. Her mischievous streak never left her.
She was quick to laugh, loved a prank and took it in good stride when the joke
was on her. From the day she came home from school as a girl with a collie
puppy in tow, Charlotte was seldom without a beloved pet. Over the years dogs,
cats, birds, rabbits and, briefly, a lamb found a place in her home. She also
loved watching the birds feeding on her deck, growing flowers, tomatoes, and
driving the back roads of Otsego County. She was proud to be a member of Native
Daughters of Cooperstown and in recent years she found good company and
regularly participated in activities at The Gathering Place in Oneonta.
She is survived
by her sons, Edmund (Wendy), Conrad and Scott; her grandchildren, Brooke,
Aiden, Ethan, Clayton, Scott and Savanna; her great-granddaughter, Abigail; her
twin sister, Christine “Tina” Rabbia; her brother, Tom Necrason; her
sister-in-law, Joanne Necrason; her aunt, Constance Fitzelle; and many cousins,
nieces and nephews, as well as her faithful companions, her dog, Charlie, and
her cat, Sampson. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Nick
Necrason; and her longtime companion, Bob Tiffany.
In keeping with
Charlotte’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. A celebration of
her life will be held in the spring, with details to be shared at a later date.
In lieu of
flowers, donations in Charlotte’s memory may be made to The Gathering Place in
Oneonta NY.
