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Each Ave Maria University student has a personal story of the graces that brought them to Our Lady’s University, where the Blessed Mother shapes her children into saints. At times, however, Jesus chooses souls from among His friends to shine out as beacons of His light to others. Such was Hannah Nelson’s unique path to sanctity, which drew her deeply into Christ’s own Paschal Mystery.
The AMU community was blessed to number Hannah Nelson as a member of the student body, where she was greatly loved as a classmate, teammate, household sister, and friend. Now, we are blessed to reflect on the marvels the Lord’s love accomplished in Hannah through her life and death, even as we continue to unite in prayer for the repose of her soul.
Hannah’s faith journey began long before her time at AMU. When she was 11 years old, Hannah was diagnosed with bone cancer, which ultimately required the amputation of one leg. She underwent intensive chemotherapy for nine months, and afterwards resumed her active life. One of Hannah’s great passions was swimming, which she continued to pursue competitively throughout middle school and high school. At AMU, Hannah became a dedicated member of the swim team. Teammates say she never drew attention to herself but always gave her best, bringing an upbeat and determined attitude to the most demanding workouts and practices. “She was an incredible athlete,” they attest.
In His Providence, the Lord brought Hannah to Ave Maria University. Encouraged by a friend and current student, Hannah transferred to AMU after two years at Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD). Driven by a desire for the truth about God, she later changed her major from accounting to theology. Hannah plunged whole-heartedly into campus life, generously sharing her many gifts. She was a cherished member of Campus Ministry, the swim team, and the Materna Vox Caritatis household. Hannah’s many talents included a love for singing and for art, leading her to get involved with choir and the Art Club. As one of Mary’s Marines, she committed to a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour. Hannah prayed the Rosary every day and faithfully frequented the 6:30 a.m. Mass.
Hannah’s love for Jesus and Mary radiated out from her. Friends and family alike speak of how Christ’s Light shone brightly in and through Hannah. “Her quiet, peaceful presence could fill a room,” one friend remarked. All those blessed to know Hannah speak about her selfless generosity, gentle compassion, readiness to listen, and attentive concern for others. “I admired her simplicity and her strength,” said one friend. “She was always ready to drop everything and serve others.” Friends say she was a person of great warmth and energy, but also had a deeply personal spiritual life. In particular, Hannah’s love for “Mama Mary” was a frequent topic of conversation with her closest friends. “She had such a Marian heart—always open and attentive to others, even when she was suffering a lot,” says one of her roommates. Another friend remembers a quote Hannah shared with her, attributed to St. Francis de Sales: “Ask for nothing, refuse nothing.” Hannah lived this reality in her daily trust in the Lord, as her roommates testify. “Hannah never doubted God’s plan for her life.”
In the spring 2026 semester, her health began to worsen, but Hannah continued living life as normally as she could. “She never complained about her pain,” friends remember. During Lent, Hannah’s physical pain increased drastically, prompting her mom to fly out to be with her and help care for her during the three weeks leading up to Easter.
On March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, Hannah united her Yes to the Fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as she joined the Ave Maria University community in making the Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary.
Nine days later, around noon on Good Friday, Hannah collapsed and was taken to the hospital, with her mother at her side. On Holy Saturday, the University received the news that Hannah had suffered a catastrophic brain bleed. Immediately, Fr. Joseph went to anoint Hannah, offering her the Last Rites along with the Apostolic Pardon. That same evening, President Middendorf visited Hannah in the hospital, bringing with him the relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Maximilian Kolbe (whose relic AMU had received just a week earlier on the Feast of the Annunciation). Together with Hannah’s parents, Tom and Theresa, and her godparents, Scott and Chris, they prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet around her bedside. Hannah was prayed for by the thousands in attendance at the Easter Vigil Mass. On Easter Sunday, all of the University Masses were offered for her, along with a 3:00 p.m. Eucharistic Holy Hour.
On Easter Sunday morning, the President happened to encounter the Dominican Sisters in their Holy Hour at Ark Chapel, and felt inspired to encourage them to go to the hospital as Hannah approached her final hours. When Sr. Maria Rose and Sr. Mary Bethany arrived, Hannah’s parents Tom and Theresa invited them to pray with Hannah before the oxygen was removed. Afterwards, the Sisters continued to offer Rosaries and a Divine Mercy Chaplet, interceding outside the room during Hannah’s final hour on earth. At the moment they began the First Joyful Mystery, the Annunciation, Hannah passed over from this world into eternity. The Sisters rejoined her family to entrust Hannah’s soul to Christ and His Mother, concluding by singing the “Salve Regina”—a hymn Hannah dearly loved and always sang with enthusiasm at the campus Masses.
At the Easter Vigil, the Church proclaims the mystery of Baptism through the words of St. Paul: “For if we have grown into union with Christ through a death like His, we shall also be united with Him in the resurrection” (Romans 6:5). In her final months of suffering, Hannah underwent her own Passion in union with Christ. And as the Church celebrated liturgically the Paschal Triduum, Jesus drew Hannah into the very mysteries of His own Death and Resurrection. All these details reveal the truth that every moment of our lives, down to our final breath, falls within the loving providence of God. Hannah’s passing on Easter Sunday is a witness to the hope given by Jesus’ Resurrection, reminding us that even in grief and death His victorious love prevails.
During Holy Week, five days before her death, Hannah had remarked to her mother, “I will rise on Easter Sunday.” As Hannah was rushed to the hospital, her parents recall being at peace, knowing that Hannah “was ready.” Hannah’s mom remembers that, through all her suffering, “Hannah was not tied down to things of this world at all.” As one roommate shared: “She knew that this world is not our home. Hannah was living for Heaven.” Shortly after Hannah’s death, her mom Theresa shared the news by texting President Middendorf: “Hannah is now celebrating her heavenly birthday, her perfect Easter.”
May Hannah intercede for us: that we may we run the race of this earthly life as she did, eyes fixed on Jesus and rejoicing in hope of the glory that awaits us in the Kingdom of our Father. May we daily offer Him our fiat, joining our “yes” of trusting faith together with our Mother Mary and with Hannah. “Be it done to me according to Thy Word.”
Eternal rest grant unto Hannah, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her, and may she rest in peace.
