Hazel Georgina (nee Short) Skuce died at Hillcrest Place, Brandon, MB on Friday, January 3, 2025. At the time of her passing, she was the oldest person in Canada, just short of her 113th birthday.

Hazel was born February 7, 1912, on the home farm in Blanshard Municipality. She was the first of 4 children born to George and Esther (nee Hyndman) Short; Hazel, Clara (Bill Hornibrook), Muriel (Mac Westwood) and Lawrence (Lottie). She attended Medina School, Oak River High School and Brandon Normal School.

Hazel was a nature enthusiast from an early age and enjoyed bird identification and was a lifelong member of the Brandon Bluebird Society. Hazel taught in many Manitoba schools from 1931 to 1971.

In 1960, Hazel married Dick Patmore of Patmore Nursery and continued teaching at Fleming and Meadows schools in Brandon. After Dick's passing in 1979, she did some traveling and worked on community and family history books. In 1988, after being re-acquainted with John Skuce from Saskatchewan, the two were married. They enjoyed life together in both Saskatchewan and Brandon until John's passing in 1999. She remained in her own home until mobility issues forced her to move to Hillcrest.

The family would like to thank the staff of Hillcrest for taking such good care of Hazel.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at Memories Chapel on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.