Friday, March 29, 2024

Obituary of Hazel Stephenson

Name of Deceased Hazel Stephenson
Age
Date of Death 02/28/2016
Date of Birth 05/18/1922
Funeral Home Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral & Cremation Services

Hazel Joyce Stephenson, born May 18, 1922, passed away February 28, 2016 at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, PA. She began life in DeLuce, Arkansas, born to Marion M. Derrick and Bertie Ruby Derrick, delivered by her grandfather, a local country doctor

The values that she carried started with her father’s stalwart character and her mother’s progressive thinking. Her father was one of a few who didn’t just say he wouldn’t irrigate on a Sunday, he never did. With only a 3rd grade education, her mother could literally do anything, and she did; her activities too many and varied to list. Hazel often said to her family she had no idea how her mother managed to do all that she did. She took her daughters to the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, making sure to visit Hull House where they actually met Jane Addams.

Hazel raised three devoted daughters and helped raise three equally devoted granddaughters. To her grandchildren she was the most loving and encouraging of people. She taught them that courage to live the life they wanted is the hardest yet most rewarding challenge life has to offer. To her grandkids she was the definition of love and kindness. She was always waiting with open arms to provide guidance and comfort.

She often said that as a child she never could have imagined the places and things she would experience in her lifetime. Hazel was always involved in everything that came her way. Her commitment to her family led her on many adventures including 4 years in the interior of Panama. She learned to dog paddle in her fifties to reassure her husband they could safely survive water expeditions. It came in handy as they embarrassingly capsized several times.

She was an accomplished seamstress making most of her children’s clothing, including poodle skirts and winter coats as well as impeccable sports coats for her professor husband. Many of her sewing projects, baby quilts and mexican pot holders were lovingly shared with family, friends and complete strangers all over the United States. For 18 years she and her husband traversed the 49 continental states and Canada.

She lived independently up to her death, doing her weekly shopping at the local Weis store, regularly attending monthly agricultural engineering breakfasts at Foxdale and often getting a bite to eat at Perkins with her daughter or granddaughters. In her nineties she learned to use a laptop, later progressing to an iPad. She loved to read, and mastered reading on a Kindle.

Hazel is survived by daughters Linda Stephenson, Lititz, PA, Suzi Fohringer (Tim), Millheim, PA, Marian Stephenson (Greg Frantz), Davis, CA, granddaughters Sarah Sheetz-Campbell (Tom), College Station, TX, and Rachel Sheetz, Lititz, PA, sister Betty Gillette, Hazen, AR, brother Martin Derrick (Patty), Searcy, AR and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her parents; her husband of 71 years, Kermit Q. Stephenson; her granddaughter, Leah Ann Sheetz; her brother, Floyd Wilbur “Bud” Derrick; and her sister, Flo Hazzard.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center, 625 Community Way, Lancaster, PA 17603.