Hannah Mansell Memorial

Mattoon Middle School hosted a memorial May 7, 2021 for Hannah Mansell. Hannah, an interpreter with EIASE’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, passed away earlier this year from COVID-19. The memorial service was held in front of the school near an area now known as Hannah’s Corner. In his remarks describing the newly dedicated Hannah’s Corner, Chris Young, STEAM teacher, said close friends of Hannah’s, Mindy Clapp and Sarah Matteson, wanted to find a way to honor Hannah. After some conversations with our principal, Nathan Pugh, Shonn Hild, owner of Hild’s Landscaping of Mattoon, Hannah’s mom, Kathy, family friend Debbie Rotramel, and the professionals at CVICU at Carle Foundation Hospital, were able to collaborate to make this ceremony in honor and remembrance of Hannah Mansell a reality. Shonn Hild worked closely with us at MMS to coordinate and ultimately create Hannah’s Corner. As you can see, the presentation that was created in the landscape consists of rhododendrons, the Eastern Redbud Tree (both purple to represent Hannah’s love for the color). Additionally, day lilies and the engraved memorial boulder were added. On the stone it reads the following message, “There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy” In loving memory of Hannah Mansell. Kathy, Hannah’s mom, shared this statement to be one of Hannah’s favorites, and now anytime someone reads this stone, Hannah will come into their minds.