At just 20 years old, Rylee Hanson had already begun building the life she always envisioned — graduating from high school with honors, earning her EMT certification, and working in emergency services, all while preparing to study forensic criminology at Indiana University, where she hoped to continue helping others in a different way.
Hanson was killed in a wrong-way crash caused by a drunk driver on Interstate 65 in February. Hebron resident Jessica T. Hughes, 29, has been charged with multiple felonies in Hanson’s death.
Friends and family say Hanson’s life should be remembered for the warmth, humor and generosity she shared with everyone around her, and for the way she brought people together.
“Every parent will say their child was amazing,” said her mom, Cassie Hanson. “But what I’ve realized since her passing is how truly selfless and humble she was.”
Those who were around Rylee say she had a natural ability to connect with people, especially those who felt out of place. At Kankakee Valley High School, she helped create a mentoring group for students who needed support or simply a place to belong.
She carried that commitment beyond the classroom. After attending the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program at Purdue University, she returned as a mentor and counselor, continuing to guide younger participants.
“She really encouraged these kids to chase their dreams and do better for everyone around them,” Cassie Hanson said. “I didn’t even know she did stuff like that; she just continued behind the scenes to reach out to all of these kids.”
In the weeks since her passing, her family has heard from people who said Hanson stayed in touch long after those programs ended by sending messages, checking in and encouraging them to pursue their goals.
Hanson’s impact extended into the communities she was part of, including Haunted Hills Hospital in Merrillville, where she had worked since she was 12. Over the years, she took on roles in set design, painting and makeup, helping create scenes and mentor others.
Teammates said she helped create a sense of belonging there.
“She made everyone feel equal,” said Madisen Novak, a makeup team leader at Haunted Hills. “She talked to everybody and made sure no one was left out.”
Novak was known by teammates as a mentor to Rylee when she began working on the makeup team.
“She really, truly made everyone’s day walking into the makeup room,” Novak said. “She always had some silly little story to tell, or she was on some tangent. She would always make us crack up.”
Friends said Hanson was known for her energy and sense of humor, often lifting the mood during long nights of work.
“She could make you laugh if you were having the worst time,” said Julissa Anderson, who worked on the makeup team. “She was the life of the party.”
That same openness defined her friendships.
Anderson described Rylee as “the best kind of friend a person can have.”
“You could call her at any point and she would talk, no matter how long, you can just pick up a conversation with her, hours later or days or months later, and it’s like you never stop talking,” Anderson said.
Karlie Mann, a close friend and fellow member of the Haunted Hills team, said Rylee showed her what a “healthy friendship” looked like.
“She was someone willing to go to lengths for you,” Mann said. “She always made sure you were okay. She was just a ray of sunshine.”
Hanson also brought people together through dance, frequently inviting others, even strangers, to join in.
“If someone was sitting alone, she would go up to them and pull them in,” Hanson said. “She wanted everyone to feel included.”
That ability to connect people became especially clear at her celebration of life on March 15, where hundreds gathered from different parts of her life.
Friends, classmates and coworkers, many meeting for the first time, shared stories, music and dances in her memory.
“They were all from different backgrounds, but they were all together,” Cassie Hanson said. “She did that.”
Haunters Against Hate, a nonprofit organization that provides grants to help local nonprofits throughout the country provide services and support to LGBTQ+ communities, announced on Instagram that Rylee will be awarded the Jesse McDonald Memorial Award in August at the organization’s annual HAH awards in Kalamazoo, MI.
Vivian Richey is an intern for the Post-Tribune through the Legacy Foundation’s News Internship Program. The Post-Tribune is solely responsible for all content.
