Maria Camela Lazo Hannecart Obituary Update: Spouse Grieves for Cherished Partner and

 PHILADELPHIA – A father and husband from Philadelphia is grieving the unfathomable loss of his wife, Maria Camela Lazo Hannecart, affectionately referred to as Ella, who lost her life in a tragic incident on October 30 when a massive tree fell onto her vehicle as she was commuting to her job.

Ella, a nurse practitioner at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, was traveling her regular path along School House Lane in East Falls at the time of the incident. Officials report that the tree unexpectedly collapsed, crushing her car and causing her death on the spot.

Her spouse, Pierre Hannecart, recounted that day as the most painful of his existence. He remembered how a police officer arrived at his residence to share the heartbreaking news.

“He stated, ‘I have news for you that will hurt you,’” Pierre recollected. “Then he recounted this terrible tale about the tree that landed on the vehicle. I was in disbelief.”

Ella embodied a life full of kindness and dedication. Prior to her role at Penn Presbyterian, she devoted a significant part of her professional journey to Doctors Without Borders, providing her services in Haiti, Senegal, and the Congo, where she courageously attended to patients during the Ebola epidemic. It was in the Congo that she met Pierre, who became her husband and the father to her three lovely children.

“She took my hand at the back and she has held it all the way — until last Wednesday,” Pierre remarked softly.

Together, they raised a nurturing family with three young kids aged 3, 7, and 9. The hardest moment for Pierre occurred just a few hours after learning about Ella’s passing when he had the painful task of telling their children that their mother was no longer with them.

“I positioned them side by side. I said to them, ‘What I’m about to tell you will change your lives forever.’ They all wept simultaneously, and we embraced one another.”

A memorial service for Ella is scheduled for Sunday, bringing together friends, family, and colleagues to honor her life and celebrate her memory. A GoFundMe initiative has been established to assist her children and support the family during these challenging times.

Pierre asserts that Ella’s impact will endure through the principles she cherished — truthfulness, empathy, and love.

“Speak the truth. Be caring and sincere,” he expressed. “This defines who she was, and this is the way she should be remembered.”

Ella’s existence was characterized by meaning and affection — a life centered on healing, generosity, and family connections. Although her earthly journey was abruptly halted, her essence continues to radiate through those she impacted and the love that remains.

May Maria ‘Ella’ Hannecart rest in everlasting peace — a committed wife, mother, and healer whose brilliance will always persist.