Hazel Wenell

Hazel J. Stearns (Wenell)

April 3, 1921 - March 28, 2023

Hazel was born in Hickory Corners, Wisconsin in 1921. She lived on farms in Wisconsin and Indiana during The Great Depression before the family settled in the Chicago area. Hazel worked for the telephone company in Evanston, Illinois, for 46 years. After retiring, she moved to Prairie Grove, Arkansas, to be with her beloved daughter, Carol Fidler, and family.

Growing up during the depression era served up the hard life lessons that gave Hazel strength, compassion, and an appreciation for the simple things in life. To Hazel, happiness was found in the beauty of nature. She enjoyed sitting outside under large trees to watch birds, bunnies, and squirrels. She loved to see the fall trees in their beautiful autumn colors of scarlet, rust, copper, and gold. When visiting state or national parks, Hazel would try to hike as many trails as possible so she could view waterfalls, rolling hills, magnificent snowcapped mountains, or blazing sunsets and the afterglow - all glorious works of the Creator. Hazel understood that true happiness comes from being content, appreciative, and thankful for what we have and is not about material possessions. It is also about helping others - both people and animals.

In addition to nature, Hazel was an adventurer who loved to travel. She traveled to every state in the US, to all national parks, and to many state parks. She also visited many countries in Europe, the Caribbean, and exotic places all over the world such as the Galapagos Islands, Tenerife, New Zealand, and Africa.

Poetry and music were some of Hazel’s other interests. When my sister, Carol, and I were growing up she would frequently read poems and stories to us from The Book House Books. She also enjoyed singing her favorite songs to us.

Hazel amazed her caregivers when she would recite some of her favorite poems from memory and would sing some of her favorite songs from long ago. She loved to play checkers and impressed her caregivers because she usually won the games when they played together.

Even as her dementia progressed, the things that were important to Hazel were not forgotten. The essence of who she was and the things she enjoyed were still there. We took frequent rides to Battlefield Park and the countryside to enjoy nature. She would never forget that Saturday was the day to go to The Golden Corral. When it became more difficult for her to travel, we still made sure that we would take her to Branson to see the music shows she loved. Hazel would not forget the birthday of a relative or her own. She would remind us to go to the store and buy Christmas and birthday cards for the great-grandchildren and stuff each card with a $20 bill. Speaking of birthdays, Hazel was so excited to become a centenarian. She had learned that when people turned 100, they could get a letter signed by the President. She really wanted that, so we made it happen. Hazel received an authentic letter from the White House, signed by the President of The United States, wishing her a Happy 100th Birthday and thanking her for her contributions to her country. WOW! What an amazing person and an amazing life!

In death, she went to join her precious daughter Carol Fidler; parents Oscar and Nellie Wenell; husband John Stearns; sister Mary (Pete) Musgrave; and nephew Tony (Robin) Musgrave.

Hazel is survived by her daughter Donna (Bill) Dermyer of Omaha, NE; son-in-law Mike Fidler of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; niece Diane Lee of Edwardsville, IL; and niece-in-law Robin Musgrave of Kansas City, MO. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Shawn (Julie) Fidler of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; Shannon (Nelson) Medina of Farmington, Washington County, Arkansas; Kerry (Jon) Tuttle of Valley, NE; Torey (June) Eads of Elkhorn, NE.

Hazel was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren, including Clay and Kyle Fidler of Prairie Grove, Arkansas; Jaxson Medina of Farmington, Washington County, Arkansas; Kayla, Kamryn, and Jake Tuttle of Valley, NE; Kylie, Jesse, and Cole Eads of Elkhorn, NE.

Above everything else, Hazel loved her family and spending time with them. There is nothing that she wouldn’t do for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She made many sacrifices to give her family better lives.

We now grieve her passing, but we will forever be thankful for Hazel’s long life, her guidance and example as the matriarch of the family, the memories she left us, and her tradition of family vacations. Hazel especially loved our family trips to Hawaii. What cherished memories those are! We will remember her feisty red-headed nature (she would remind us that she was a natural redhead), her colorful sense of humor, her concern for others, and her passion for nature, travel, music, and poetry. Above all else, we will never forget the legacy of eternal love that she leaves us.

The family would like to recognize and give thanks to all the kind and dedicated caregivers who made Hazel’s wish possible to remain in her home for so many years. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 8, 2023 - 11:00 a.m. at Luginbuel Chapel in Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

Online Guestbook: www.luginbuel.com