Obituary of Hazel Marie Smith

Hazel Marie Coons was born July 7, 1924 in Hanna, Alberta. She was raised in the Craigmyle area until she was about six; where she loved to be outdoors with the horses and dog. Hazel along with Grandma and Grandpa Ludlow, uncle Austin and her sister June moved to Bluffton, Alberta where she took her schooling at Bluff Center. When she was fifteen she went to work at the lumber mill camp as a cook. Her day was a very long day as she cooked three meals a day for approximately fifty men. Her day began at five AM and ended when clean up was done after supper. When she was eighteen she moved to Vancouver and worked in a rooming house, cooking and cleaning. She enjoyed it there and loved the beautiful scenery but being a small town girl she eventually moved back to live in the Stettler area where she met and married the love of her life Dewey Smith. To this union four children were born: Albert, Marge, Cheryl and Susan. Hazel was an excellent homemaker and there was nothing she enjoyed more than her family. Hazel enjoyed crocheting, gardening and sewing. She made each of her children, grandchildren and even most of the great grandchildren stuffed carousel horses. She was very involved in the Erskine United Church and the UCW. She loved to floor curl and in 19?? she was part of the team that included her husband Dewey, Don Volker and Bruce Johnston that won the gold medal in the Seniors Games in Grand Prairie. In recent times she enjoyed playing cards every night with her friends in Heart Haven. Hazel passed away peacefully on April 29, 2013 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton surrounded by her family. Hazel was predeceased by her husband Dewy, her sisters Rose, Nonie, Maysie, Gail and June, her brothers Jim and Gordon. She leaves to mourn, her loving family: Albert (Lynn) Smith of Bentley, Marjorie (Hans) Bauman of Erskine, Cheryl Smith of Stettler and Susan Daigle of Stettler; 10 grandchildren: Trevor Smith, Troy (Lori) Smith, Tyler (Irene) Smith, Tim (Jacey) Smith, Darren (Rebecca) Bauman, Kevin (Dana) Bauman, Georgia (Greg) Copeland, Adam (Kim) Hymers, Tamara (Johnny) Castuciano and Chantelle Daigle; 17 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandson; sisters Jeanine (Ed) Shaw and Dorothy (Carey) Marchand; brother Norman Coons; sisters in law Nellie Wells and Marge Shannon; brother in law Archie Smith (Gertie Savage); numerous nieces, nephews, other family and many dear friends. A celebration of Hazel’s life was held on Saturday, May 4, 2013 in the Heartland Chapel of Stettler Funeral Home with Reverend Ross Helgeton officiating. Hazel was laid to rest at the Erskine Cemetery, Erskine, Alberta with her husband Dewey. Memorial donations may be made in memory to Erskine United Church or a charity of your choice