James "Jim" Parce Hannan's Obituary
James “Jim” Parce Hannan, 71, passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on May 26, 2019 in Escondido, California.
Jim was born in Rochester, New York on October 27, 1947 to Walter Parce Hannan and Dorothy “Dot” Boyd Hannan. Jim was the namesake of Western New York pioneer James Hannan who settled in the Rochester area in 1810. The Hannan family was deeply-rooted in upstate New York and many of Jim’s earliest friends and schoolmates were his cousins. Growing up on a dairy farm, Jim developed a strong work ethic at a young age as he woke early each morning to milk the cows before school. Jim graduated from Fairport High School with honors in 1965.
In January of 1967 Jim enlisted in the US Navy and was assigned to submarine service as an Electrician’s Mate on the USS Thomas Jefferson in Groton, Connecticut. On August 12, 1972 he married a beautiful school teacher named Joanne Turbak in Enfield, Connecticut. In January 1973 Jim completed his Naval service and enrolled in the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. He graduated in May 1977 with his wife and first daughter Alyssa present. Upon completion of a pharmacy internship, he accepted a job at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland in the children’s cancer research center. His research experience led him to transfer his employment to The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he worked for 14 years developing pharmaceuticals. Jim concurrently worked in the pharmacy at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland and he valued this opportunity to serve and interact directly with people. Jim retired from the Public Health Service and continued his pharmacy career in the retail sector at Giant Food in Rockville, Maryland.
After 21 years in the Washington D.C. area, Jim felt prompted to move his family back to upstate New York to be closer to his ageing parents. In April 1998 he began his 14-year employment with Wegmans Food Markets. Jim retired (this time for good) in 2012 not to rest, but to continue serving people. He immediately left on the USNS Mercy to help deliver medications to people having surgical procedures in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and The Philippines. Soon after, Jim and Joanne left to serve an 18-month humanitarian mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Uganda-Kampala mission. In Uganda, they made clean water available to thousands, delivered essentials to South Sudanese refugees, and completed many other health and hygiene projects. Following the fulfillment of this life-long goal, Jim and Joanne moved to Southern California.
Jim will always be remembered for his commitment to make each moment of his life matter. He organized every aspect of his time to give service to his family, his country, his neighbors, and God. He loved making lists, checking off tasks, organizing, filing, labeling, researching, ironing, cleaning, safety-pinning, and reminding his children “A place for everything and everything in its place.” His prized possessions were his typewriter, Cross pens, Samsonite briefcase, Franklin planner, photo albums, and desk calendar. He loved history books, maps, the American flag, newspapers, and morning walks listening to public radio. He enjoyed weekly service with his wife in the Palmyra, NY temple, boating on the Finger Lakes, driving his red Corvette, and chocolate ice cream.
Jim is survived by his wife of 47 years, Joanne; his four children Alyssa (Jason) Chadwick of Escondido, CA, Andrew (Amanda) Hannan of Rochester, NY, Ashley Hannan of Park City, UT, and Austin (Lindsey) Hannan of Peoria, AZ; eight grandchildren Britain, Tyler, Stratton, Matisse, Langston, Hailey, Emily, and Harper; sister-in-law Marilyn (Bill) Chaney and brother-in-law John (Noreen) Turbak; nephews Jason, Matthew, and Adam Chaney; and many additional beloved relatives.
Funeral services will be held Saturday June 15, 2019 at 11:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 2255 Felicita Road, Escondido, CA 92026. Memorial services and burial will be held Friday July 26, 2019 at 11:00am at White Haven Memorial Park on 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY 14534.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s honor to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund. Special thanks to the staff at Maple Manor Memory Care Center.
Jim always said “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.” We know he did it right.
What’s your fondest memory of James "Jim"?
What’s a lesson you learned from James "Jim"?
Share a story where James "Jim"'s kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with James "Jim" you’ll never forget.
How did James "Jim" make you smile?
