With immense sadness but also a sense of joy, the Vail family wishes to announce that Hazel passed from this life into the arms of her Lord in the evening of August 14th, after a nearly two year battle with cancer. Wife and soul mate to Ken, loving mother to Suzanne, Cathy (Gerald), Gordon (Brenda), and David (Sharon), Hazel was truly one of those amazing and all too rare people whose Christian faith was expressed in a multitude of practical ways. Mom valued results over appearances and it amazes us to see so many photographs of events, where she is visible only as a blur of activity in the background, while the rest of us stood around and soaked things up. Hazel was always such a solid person and quietly became a mentor to many people, of whom some were grafted directly into her family and so she regarded Kim (Binh), Dung, Thanh, Mai (Willie) and Wendy Lywood (and more!) as her dear kids. To this day they call Hazel and Ken, "Mom and Dad". Mom was so proud of all her children and cherished each and every grandchild as they entered our lives: Khan, Angie, Marla, Corey, Landon (d.1987), Lisa, Elizabeth, Mylissa, Jessica, Katie-Sue, Austin and Bianca. Family was extremely important to Hazel; she was so fond of her sister, Gwen, her sister in law and brothers in law and fourteen nieces and nephews and kept astonishing lists of everybody's birthdays and anniversaries. Hazel Bassett was born in Dauphin Hospital and raised on the family farm south west of Dauphin, Manitoba on June 8, 1935. Her father, Dillwyn Radcliffe Bassett, was from Cardiff, Wales, and her mother, Susanna Sparks, was "born within the sound of Bow Bells" in East London. Both parents had independently immigrated to Canada some years before and met on a ship while travelling back home to visit relatives remaining in Britain. Growing up on the farm, Hazel developed that strong do-it-yourself pioneering ability and could move easily from knitting an afghan blanket to driving a grain truck. Countless feet have stayed warm with Mom's knitted slippers, which she seemed to be able to make with alarming speed. Some of our homes have hardly a room without something Mom made for us or inspired us to make ourselves. Her desserts are legendary and we still struggle to bake and make Yorkshire pudding as well as Mom. After completing high school in Dauphin, Hazel attended the Normal School in Winnipeg and became a schoolteacher. Although she taught professionally for only a year, Mom was a born teacher and right to the end had the "eyes in the back of your head" capability, befitting a one-room country schoolteacher. Mom taught Sunday School at her beloved St. George's for 25 years and had a deep love for "little persons", as she called them. Raised in a moral and churchgoing home, Hazel entered a deeper and more profound encounter with her faith in the early 1970s. As her faith in Jesus Christ came alive, Ken and the kids were drawn closer to all the fullness of life which was offered and we began a journey which continues, even now. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except by me," and Hazel based her actions, study, service to others and her own life in the sure belief that this was so, and that God was constantly present, loving us and working in our lives. Mom was certain that, even if she lost the battle to cancer, there was no question that the war was already victoriously decided and that life was hers forever. Hazel was officially diagnosed with cancer in January of 2003. She began treatment enthusiastically, determined to beat the despicable disease. Throughout chemotherapy, there were amazingly few side effects, a rare situation which Mom attributed completely to the prayers which continually surrounded her. God mercifully spared her from much pain, to the extent that, even in her last days, she emphatically refused to take the prescribed morphine, claiming that she did not need it. Dad cared very bravely for Mom at home, where she was always happiest in this world. Mom died in a bed in the living room, where she could see out the window and where we could visit her comfortably. It is extremely beautiful right now, as all the flowers are in bloom and everything is still lush and green because of all the rain we have had this summer. It has been a great comfort to Mom and Dad to be a part of the family of God's people and to experience the love and prayers of all our relatives, both blood and spiritual. Situations like these are mysterious and perhaps impossible to understand in this world; Mom was extremely capable in so many ways and her absence will leave a great void in many lives, so we mentioned to Mom several times in the past few days that we would actually be in need of her prayers. We also mentioned to Mom that she did a very good job of teaching us, and of showing us how to live well.
Funeral services were held at St. George's Anglican Church on Wednesday, August 18th. In lieu of flowers, Hazel's family asks that donations be made to the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, care of St. George's Church.