Hazel May Gray

Hazel M Gray, 95 a longtime resident of Columbia, passed away on Saturday, August 4th, just two days shy of her 96th birthday. She is survived by her son, Bill; daughter in law, Valerie and her granddaughter, Olivia, all of Atlanta, GA; her grandson, Noah, of New York City; three sisters, Laura Potvin, Grace Hobin, and Mable Noheimer; a very special niece, Audrey Shea, and many other nieces and nephews. Hazel was predeceased by her husband, Raymond and her beloved daughter, Kathleen. She was born in Providence, RI. to the late Fredrick and Grace (Eolin), Maynard.

Hazel moved to the Windham area with her family in the early 1930”s, during the depths of the Great Depression, and met her future husband there at a social dance. They married a few short weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor and Ray’s subsequent joining of the US. Army. (Timing is everything). Hazel had a variety of careers in her long life, starting with work at the Narraganset Inn at Watch Hill, RI. while Ray was overseas. She was also employed at Halleck’s Ice Cream Shop and as a waitress at the Willimantic Clark House in her early years.  She eventually owned and operated her own catering business, and also spent many years as a successful Avon sales representative, earning their President Circle level. However, probably her main role and vocation in life was that of a Homemaker, in the true spirit and sense of those words. Taking a small house and family and lovingly caring for them. True to form, Hazel was active for many years with the Columbia Home Makers association, rising to the role of president. She was involved with many charitable functions at St. Columbia’s church and donated her time and boundless energy to the Columbia Senior Center in the mid 1990’s, receiving many state accolades for her work.

Hazel had many interests and hobbies, whether it was baking and entertaining for Christmas, and other holidays, tending to her yard and her array of beautiful plants and flowers, painting and sketching landscape scenes, listening to music albums, or just curling up with a good book. She was always a “body in motion”, so energetic, with always something else to do coming right up on the horizon.

While her body has passed from us now, her feisty spirit, undying energy, generosity, and kindness to all will remain for a very, very long time.

The family will receive relatives and friends Thursday, August 09, 2018 at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, CT from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with the Funeral Service starting at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at the North Windham Cemetery.

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