Grete Hansen

Grete Hansen, 83, of Madison, Alabama, passed away on August 8, 2025. Born in Enekbakk, Norway, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, at age 10 to study piano, living with her grandparents. A graduate of Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn, she worked for the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) before marrying Wallace Horne in 1962. In 1963 they moved to Uncasville, Connecticut where they raised three sons—Bruce, Kenneth, and Christopher.

Grete later married Ralph Edward Hansen in 1982 and moved to St. Mary’s, Georgia, in 1988, working at Kings Bay Submarine Base until retiring in 2003. After retiring, she continued serving the military community through 18 years of volunteer work with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. In 2021, she and Ralph moved to Madison, Alabama, to be near family.

Grete enjoyed going on cruises, making Norwegian foods, and was talented at cross stitching and crocheting—sharing her creations generously with friends and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her parents Gunnar and Hjordis Holden and brother Bjarne. She is survived by her husband Ralph; brother Jan (Berit) Holden; sister-in-law Astrid Holden; children Bruce (JoAnne) Horne, Kenneth Horne, and Christopher (Jennifer) Horne; grandchildren Katie (Thomas) Girouard, Benjamin Horne, Ethan Horne, and Carolyn Horne; and great-grandchildren Maximus and Myles Girouard.

Memorial services will be held at Legacy Chapel, 16 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758, on September 13, 2025, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and services beginning at 11:00 a.m., followed by a lunch.