When someone dies we try and think or talk about the good things in their character, we generally emphasise the positive things a person has said or done. With Hazel there is nothing to avoid, its only possible to remember the good things.
Hazels whole life revolved around her family, and as time passed bye it got bigger and bigger. Hazel observed life, she watched everything that went on, missed nothing as they say. She enjoyed watching her children growing and developing and finding their way in life. Not just children but the grand children and lately great grand children.
She didn't fit the profile for the mother in law jokes either, she never interfered or tried to influence us unless she was asked. But she was always there when you needed her, if you asked for advice or needed help she never let you down.
If Hazel had any faults then she was generous to a fault. We have all benefited from her generosity over the years. She didn't believe in leaving everything in a will for when she was gone, if she could give you something or had something she wanted to share, then she wanted you to have it now when it would be of most benefit, and she treated everyone equally in that regard.
I have known Hazel for the best part of 40 years. She has been and played a big part in my life, she accepted me into her home when I started going with Lorraine and I have always been made to feel like part of the family. In all that time we never had a cross word, not one. That alone speaks volumes about the kind of person she was.
Looking at hazel you wouldn't think of her as the athletic type. But let me tell you she could move when she wanted to. I used to keep her going, probably pushing the boundaries just to find out where they where. But this one time I must have found the line. I was sitting on the floor in the living room of the school bungalow, and i must have said something but before i knew it, she completely took me by surprise by getting up and sitting on me and shouting "pile on!" "Pile on" means everyone jumping on top of the person on the floor and the person on the bottom getting all the weight of the guys on top (family tradition). Needless to say that I had a more respectful approach to Hazel for a while after that.
Hazel will be missed by us all, she was a rock, the foundation stone that kept us all together. She had six children, and together with Terry they were her world. She would have done anything for them and helping them to grow, and mature and stand independently was her life's achievement. I know that at times it was tough in the early days providing for such a large family, but for Hazel and Terry it was never a burden, never to big a responsibility.
The thing I loved most about Hazel and what has impacted on me most, is her simple faith. No deep theological theories, no complications. Just simply that she trusted in Jesus as her Saviour and now she is with him in heaven.
