| Graduation Year | Class of 1994 |
| Date of Passing | (unknown) |
| About | 1976 ~ 2009 Dr. Johanna Adeline Kolodziejski “Hanna†– wife, daughter, sister, and friend to everyone she knew, passed away after a long and brave battle against cancer early Tuesday morning in Boston. Born in Springfield and raised in Longmeadow, Hanna flourished at everything she ever did – from a precocious beginning on her father’s lap in his classroom and watching her brilliant mom nurse patients, to becoming a young concert violinist and pianist and, most dear to her, a dedicated scientist. Hanna graduated with honors from Longmeadow High School in 1994 and with honors from Brown University in 1998 and then spent a year in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps where she met her husband, Jason before beginning graduate studies at Indiana University. She earned her Ph.D. in biology with minors in neuroscience and animal behavior despite intensive cancer treatments in 2001 and a bone marrow transplant in 2005. Among her dozens of accolades while at IU was the Wells Graduate Fellowship and a college dissertation year fellowship. While in Bloomington she also dedicated herself to wildlife rehab, serving as songbird team leader and senior board member for Wildlife,Inc. She also housed orphaned critters of all shapes and sizes as well as volunteering at Shalom Community Center where she served lunches. She was never happier then when helping those who needed her. And we all needed her. In 2007 she began her dream job – teaching biology and advising undergraduate students at Keene State College where she quickly became enamored with and by her colleagues and students .Hanna’s intellect and beauty were matched only by her love for all things big and small. She treated everyone with grace, dignity and unmatched compassion. She was always the first to see a wrong and then take the responsibility to act on that wrong. She loved her family most. There was no where she would rather spend time then at the kitchen table with family and friends laughing ,reminiscing, acting goofy and teaching us something bizarre about the natural world around us. She wanted nothing more than to become a mother and with Jason had begun the process toward adoption. It goes without saying that Hanna would have been the most loving wonderful, compassionate mother imaginable. The world is an emptier place today that Hanna is no longer in it, but like an angel, spent her all too short time here making it a better place and teaching the rest of us how to do the same. Hanna was preceded in death by her Mom, Kathleen. She is survived by her husband, Jason; Dad, Dennis; brother,Noah; sister, Madigan; step-mom, Sheralee; Grandparents, Joe and Mella; parents and sister-in-law, Craig, Mary Ann and Erica; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and countless friends who hold her close to their hearts. Family and friends are invited to the calling hours on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home 220 North Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm with a funeral home service beginning at 2:00 pm. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.leukemia-lymphoma.orgor to Wild Care,Inc. at www.wildcareinc.org. Visiting Hours: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 12:00pm - 2:00pm at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts 01028 Funeral Service: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 2:00pm at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main street, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. |
