103 Years of a Life Well Lived – Hazel Thompson
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It is with such warmth and gratitude in my heart that I write for you all today—a wee story about our beloved Hazel Thompson.
Hazel was born on August 25, 1921, to Stan and Nellie Parkinson in a little mission hospital located in a small community known as Southbank, near the shore of Francois Lake. Pioneers of Armstrong, her grandparents, George and Jane Parkinson, and John and Mary Hunter share a long history in the landscape of this area.
Hazel brought five children into this world, all of whom have a great connection and wholehearted love for their mom. One of her children, Murray, became ill and passed away at the early age of 9 years old. The remaining children, Heather, Stacey, Karyn, and Gary, shared some stories with me that brought laughter and a few tears.
When it was time for Hazel to transition from her home to a retirement community, Heaton Place was here for her. The family shares, "Mom was resisting the move for sure, but when we brought her to tour Heaton Place, due to the building being brand new, she had the pick of the crop! Hazel chose a lovely 2-bedroom on the third floor facing east! After seeing the suite, she was so excited and wanted to move in the next day!"
Heather describes that on the day Hazel moved in, she walked into her suite, looked out her sliding glass door, and witnessed the sun shining brightly on a beautiful, big maple tree across the way; the leaves were shimmering gold! It was providence!
Because the building was so new, Hazel was the only resident living on the third floor at the time. All of her grandchildren would come to what they called 'the Castle'; they had a wonderful time running up and down the halls, pretending it was their very own castle!
Her talent was unlimited; there was nothing Hazel could not do. From sketching to knitting Barbie doll clothes for Karyn's store in Atlin, painting, drawing, baking—you name it, she did it. Scrabble was a huge part of her daily life; she always had a Scrabble game going, whether she played against herself or with another. Laughing, Karyn and Heather say, "Mom used to say that her opponents would end up getting dementia and they would cheat!"
Stacey talks about Mom always being curious. She was a natural learner. Anytime one of her children would travel, she would take out her atlas and follow along to learn more about the vacation spots her loved ones were visiting.
Gary jokingly says, "I was the favorite because I was the only boy," but when the family went through Hazel's belongings, they found a family tree she had made, and with laughter, they tell me that she forgot to put Gary in the tree! The siblings had a good laugh over that one!
Hazel loved to garden, always maintaining beautiful flower beds and vegetable gardens at her family home. When she moved into Heaton, she often enjoyed being involved in the planting of flower boxes in the beautiful courtyard.
Hazel started her schooling in a primary school built on the grounds of our Memorial Park in Armstrong, and then attended the old brick school. She graduated in 1940 at the old leaky Armstrong High School. She tells the tale of riding the school bus, which, in her words, was built like a chicken coop, with railings on each side and three long benches inside. She comments, "The exhaust pipes would be under the benches and would create heat. I remember the smell of rubber boots heating up from those exhaust pipes." George Game was the bus driver, who then went on to become one of Armstrong's mayors. She also shared that the beautiful arch of trees you see today as you drive down Otter Lake Road was planted by George and his wife!
Following school, Hazel met her husband, Bill Thompson. They married on April 28, 1942, and shared a long marriage of 59 wonderful years. Throughout those years, Hazel experienced many difficult moments, and when asked how she coped, her reply was "one day at a time."
In a previous interview with Hazel, I asked her a few questions:
What are some of the most important lessons you have learned in your life? "Count to ten."
What would you say are the major values or principles that you live by? "I like to think I treat others the way I would like to be treated."
Is there anything you would like to share? "I deeply want my children to always care for each other and remain friends. I would be devastated if that did not happen."
Hazel has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and in a conversation with them over the years, the common sentiment expressed was, "Grandma means home to me; she's a master at conversation and a living encyclopedia of local history. I learn so much every time we're together.”
Hazel passed away peacefully with her family surrounding her on September 16, 2024. She was a pillar at Heaton Place—a lady of dignity, humour, wisdom, and strength. The Heaton family will miss her dearly; however, we are so grateful to have been able to be a part of her journey in this thing we call life.
Her children shared that, in her last moments, her words were, "Obviously I love my family, but I really like them!"