Mrs. Johanna "Hanna" Margarethe Mason, 87, of Spring Branch, TX, formerly of Delhi, NY, passed away early Friday morning, January 30, 2015, at Methodist Stone Oak Hospital in San Antonio, TX, due to a stroke.

Born on September 8, 1927, in Scharmbeck, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Johann Eberhard Schmalz and Marie Karoline Schmalz (geb. Moormann).

Hanna was married to Calvin Leo Mason, known to his friends as Leo, whom she met in Germany in 1945 while he was serving with the Service Company of the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. The couple was married in Delhi, NY, on May 17, 1947. Leo passed away December 25, 1997, approximately six months after he and Hanna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Hanna was employed for over 21 years at Delaware Academy elementary school in Delhi as a Teacher's Aide. She was also a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Delhi for over 60 years. Hanna maintained an adventurous spirit well into old age, and even traveled to India in the last decade of her life, where she rode an elephant to the Amber Fort in Jaipur, and subsequently toured Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry. Hanna Mason was also the first member of her family to emigrate from Germany, sailing from the port of Bremerhaven to forge a better life in America. Through the efforts of Hanna and her husband, Leo, three of Hanna's five siblings would subsequently immigrate to America and become U.S. citizens.

Hanna is survived by her four children, a son-in-law, and two daughters-in-law: Maria and Paul Phillips of Spring Branch, TX, Christina "Tina" Mason of Auburn, NY, Robert and Lynda Mason of Spring Branch, TX, and Tyler and Mercedes Mason of Bucharest, Romania; six grandchildren, Kristen Wade, and Marissa, Mia, Haylee, Ethan, and Hannah Mason; as well as six great-grandchildren, Mason, Mackenzie, Cody, Cameron, Meredith, and Clayton Wade; and four of her five siblings, brother Karl-Gerhard Schmalz of Ritterhude, Germany, sister Thea Koch of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany, brother Heinz Schmalz of Clinton, NY, and sister Marianne Rabeler of Moravia, NY. Hanna's brother, Erwin Schmalz of San Antonio, TX, predeceased her.

Graveside funeral services will be held at West Delhi Cemetery at the convenience of the family.

Contributions in Hanna's memory can be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 565 Andes Road, Delhi, NY 13753. Isaiah 46:4 (NIV). John 11:25-26 (NIV). Romans 15:13 (NIV).

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hall & Peet Funeral Home of Delhi.

Please visit Mrs. Mason's online memorial at www.hallandpeet.com to share condolences with her family.