K. Hanna Powell

K. Hanna Powell, 47, of Sanford, joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the eternal mansion on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. She died peacefully at her home surrounded by her family and friends.Hanna was born in Turku, Finland on February 2, 1970 to Pekka and Marjo (Lindstrm) Viljanen. She grew up in Piikki, Finland. She came to the United States as an exchange student in 1986 and returned in 1990 to pursue her piano studies. In 1995, she obtained her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Music Education from DePauw University in Indiana, studying with Dr. Lorna Griffitt and Claude Cymerman. She received her Masters in Piano Performance from Indiana University in 1998, studying with Karen Shaw and Menahem Pressler. She married Andrew Powell in 2001. The couple welcomed two sons Patrick (2002) and Jonathan (2005). She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in May 2006. Despite the challenges battling cancer, she completed her Doctor in Organ Performance and Church Music History in 2015. She was the music teacher at St. Thomas School in Sanford from 2012-2016. She had been a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Gorham, Maine since moving to Maine in 2006.Hanna was a talented musician, but more importantly a strong and committed Christian woman, full of love and compassion. She touched the lives of people all over the world through her music and her infectious personality. If you had the pleasure to have met Hanna, you became her friend. Even through her battle with metastatic breast cancer over the past 11 years, she continued to smile and enjoy life. As Hanna said, "because my Redeemer lives I can face tomorrow".Hanna leaves behind her husband Andrew; her two sons Patrick and Jonathan; her parents Pekka and Marjo Viljanen of Paimio, Finland; her brothers Juha Viljanen of Piikki, Finland and Teemu Viljanen of Paimio, Finland; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews living in Finland as well as many cherished friends around the world. Hanna was predeceased by her sister, Saara Viljanen and her brother, Tuomo Viljanen.Calling hours are Thursday, April 27 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. A funeral will be held on Friday, April 28 at 10:00am at Holy Family Church, 66 North Avenue, Sanford. Rev. Timothy Sandeno will officiate the ceremony. Burial services will follow at Oakdale Cemetery in Sanford. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Hanna's life.In lieu of flowers, please send donations in honor of Hanna to one of the following organizations, Redeemer Lutheran Church, PO Box 427, Gorham, Maine 04038; St Thomas School, 69 North Avenue, Sanford, Maine 04073 or Susan G. Komen (Breast Cancer Foundation), http://ww5.komen.org.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.