Carol Jane (Hansen) Hand, 83, ascended into the journey of everlasting life from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ on Saturday, February 7, 2026. She was born August 11, 1942 in Alton, IL the daughter of William G. Hansen, Sr. and Thelma (Jackson) Hansen Tedrick. Throughout the years she had worked for various companies in Illinois and New Jersey, including OSF St. Anthony's Hospital in Alton, IL. She retired in 2005 after working 20 years as a supervisor/auditor for Kids R Us Distribution Center in Somerset, NJ. The former Carol J. Hansen married the love of her life, Clifford W. Hand, Jr., on September 5, 1958 in Alton. He preceded her in death on July 13, 1985. Surviving are one daughter, Janet L. (Kyle) Morrison of East Longmeadow, MA, two sons, John P. (Luisa) Hand of Piscataway, NJ, and Thomas M. Hand of Middlesex Borough, NJ, sister in law, Marjory Bryant, brother in law, Chance Shewmake, nieces and nephews, Pamela (Rick) Stolze, Joy Bryant, Kathryn Shewmake, Bobbi (Jerry) Wray, Timothy (Terry) Shewmake William (Barbara) Hansen, Diana Hansen and April (Harry) Fry, fifteen great nieces and nephews and six great great nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, William G. Hansen, Jr., sister in laws, Charlotte Hansen, Zada Shewmake, brother-in-law, Robert Bryant, niece, Sue Ann Bryant and nephew, Rob Bryant. Visitation will be Friday, February 20, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Gent Funeral Home in Alton, where funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Reverend Jerry Wray will officiate. Burial will be at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey. Memorials may be made to: American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation, The RP Foundation, The Vision Walk Foundation Fighting Blindness or the American Diabetes Association. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com