HART, Hazel

HART Hazel Rebecca Hart, formerly of Hinton, AB, passed away with her son and daughter by her side at the Barrhead Healthcare Centre on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at the age of 92 years. A sincere thank you to the compassionate staff, who cared for her during her three-month stay.
Hazel will be deeply missed and eternally loved by her surviving children, son Lowell Hart (Elizabeth de Munck) of Campbell River, BC, and daughter Loya (Kevin) De Clercq of Barrhead, AB. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Haylene, Rebecca, and John. She was predeceased by her husband, Adrian in 2008; sons Randall in 1969 and Robert in 2023; her parents, Gottlieb and Rebecca Wiess; 11 sisters (5 of whom died in childhood); 7 brothers (2 of whom died in childhood), and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law.
Hazel was born in Medicine Hat, AB on July 5, 1932. The youngest of 19 children, she grew up with the support of her older siblings and was only the second person in her family to finish high school. After graduating from John Oliver High School in Vancouver in 1949, she completed Normal School in Vancouver in 1951 and earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta in 1966. Most of her teaching career took place in Hinton, where she met and married Adrian Hart.
Hazel also enjoyed curling, and, in her early days in Hinton, playing backcatcher in softball. Hazel was a dedicated member of The Order of The Eastern Star as well as Daughters of the Nile – Al Amira and Sakkara Temples.
She was a strong, determined lady who never balked at any challenge. A teacher-librarian for 37 years, she helped numerous communities develop public libraries. Hazel served her communities as a town councillor, justice of the peace, and Grande Yellowhead School board chair. She also served on numerous other provincial boards and committees. An avid artist and voracious reader, she authored the History of Hinton and travelled the world well into her late 80s. She led hundreds of students on several different tours: Expo ’67 (Montreal), Greece, 7 Countries of Europe, Spain and Portugal, Ireland, China, and Expo ’86 (Vancouver). She also travelled with friends or her sisters to Eastern Canada, China, Dubai, Myanmar, India, Moldova, and Vietnam, just to name a few. She followed her heritage in Ukraine and loved to gamble the nights away in Laughlin, Reno, and Las Vegas.
Hazel had a magnetic energy that drew people to her, and everyone who knew her loved her. She will be missed by so many whose hearts she has touched.
We invite family and friends to a Celebration of Life in Hinton, AB on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm at the United Church, 101 Maskuta Drive, inurnment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, 181 Robb Road. Lunch will be at the Royal Canadian Legion, 250 Pembina Avenue.
Donations in memory of Hazel may be made to Dogs with Wings, 11343-174 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5S 0B7.