Obituary of Hazel Winsor

Hazel I. Winsor a proud and independent woman who had a bit of an adventurous side to her passed away after a short illness on Saturday morning, December 29, 2012. She was 91 years old. Hazel was born in Everett, the daughter of the late Francis and Ethel Hickey. She grew up in Everett and was a graduate of Everett High School. Hazel worked for a time and then in her early 20’s she saw the beginning of World War II. Her brothers, Francis and Robert enlisted in the Marines and Hazel followed her brothers’ lead and enlisted in the Army to serve her country. During the war, she was a driver of Generals and other high ranking officials. She was very proud of her military service and recently the Daily Times newspaper wrote an article about her and another woman’s contribution to the war effort. Hazel always had an independent and self sufficient personality. He always had a job or 2. She had worked at R.H. Stearns, as a cashier at Bell Rock Market, a teller at Malden Savings Bank, a candy maker at Schrafts Candy in Charlestown, and a server at Gloria Caterers. She was a long time volunteer for the Town of Burlington. She was very active in the Burlington Senior Citizens and Council on Aging. She took classes, trips, participated in cabarets, Bingo, card games, or any other event or social the seniors were holding. She had a great group of good friends at Tower Hill. One of Hazel’s great adventures was her 2 cars trips from Massachusetts to Alaska. In the 1970’s, Hazel and her niece packed up a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda with their clothing and camping supplies and headed out cross country to Alaska. The would camp along the way, panned for gold, and saw the United States in a way most could only dream of. She loved to read. She had a competitive side to as well and she was always up for game. She enjoyed old horror movies and simply spending time with her family and friends. Her love, spirit, and self-determination will always be remembered by all her family. Hazel was the wife of the late James Winsor. She was the loving mother of Paul Winsor & his wife Mary of Burlington. She was the devoted grandmother of Daniel Winsor of Billerica. She was predeceased by her siblings: Dorothy Miller, Ethel Cronin, Grace Thomas, Eva Johnson, Beatrice Ronan, Helen, Francis & Robert Hickey. She was the special Aunt of Nancy Dodson, Jack Cronin, Katie Alfieri & Matthew Coy. Hazel was also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt 95/128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday from 2-5 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Hazel’s name may be made to the Burlington Council on Aging, 61 Center St., Burlington, MA 01803 Eulogy by Katie Alfieri We are gathered here today to say our final goodbye to Auntie Hazel. She was a happy and fun-loving woman who enjoyed the company of her family and numerous friends. She was so outgoing and caring it was hard not to be her friend. She loved to read and sew and hardly a day went by when she wasn’t ready to play a game. She did not spend too much time with television, but she did love those old horror movies and the midnight creature feature. She would also watch Judge Judy and agreed with her all the time. She was a great listener. I knew that I could go to her with any problems I had and she would offer her advice. She had a great love of angels and always wore an angel over her heart. She has a collection of angels of all sizes and even had one outside her door to watch over her neighbors. Auntie Hazel was proud of her life and had no regrets. She loved her son Paul with all her heart and thought no one was better than him until Danny, her grandson, came along. Uncle Paul had to share the pedestal. Even though she had only one son, she inherited a large family when Uncle Paul married Mams. With 9 brothers and sisters, the family grew and grew with marriages and babies. Everyone called her Auntie Hazel and she loved us like we were her own and we loved her. She even had her own bedroom down the Cape at Grampie and Nana Carol’s named the HA HA room in her honor. She had so many wonderful qualities and I hope that everyone here remembers how special she was. My most favorite recent memory of her was at her 90th birthday party. She was smiling from ear to ear all day and loved every second of being the center of attention and especially loved wearing that purple boa and tiara. She had been promising me for years that she would do a boa dance and she finally did that day. She was always fun at family parties and we always had a good laugh with her. Her passing did not leave us empty because in her lifetime she showed us that being kind and generous to each other was the best way for us to express our love for each other. Auntie Hazel, you have rightfully earned your heavenly wings, I am sure that you will shine in your new role as our Guardian Angel. As I say, Auntie Hazel, I hope you checked your pocketbook before you got to Heaven, because you never know what Uncle Tommy threw in there. So to you Auntie Hazel, I offer you these parting words: we love you, we will always love you and we will never forget you.