Mrs. Hazel Ruby Winnifred Eccleston (nee Smith), age 97 years passed away peacefully on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Pinewood Court. Hazel was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 2, 1928 and attended public and grade school there until the family moved to Geraldton, Ontario in 1941 where her father was in the trucking business. After attending high school there, her next move was to Port Arthur, Ontario. She loved driving. Cars and trucks were her passion so she decided to be a delivery person. Her first job was delivering for Woods Meat Market and then for Lakehead Cleaners, Crooks Drugs, Orchid Florist and Co-op Store. She also worked in a meat processing plant and sold Avon for years. In 1954, Hazel was introduced to Thomas David Eccleston by an old school chum of his and they never looked back. It was the fun time of their lives but decided to settle down and were married in Trinity United Church in 1957, which lasted 47 years. In 1959, Hazel was introduced to 5 pin bowling and what started out as a once a week fun league turned into 4 or 5 leagues a week for 40 competitive years. During that time, Hazel became well known in the 5 pin circle as she competed in tournaments in every major city across Canada. As a member of Thunder Bay 5 Pin, her accomplishments were many. Besides the many, many trophies she received, she took Thunder Bay High Average for 18 years, of which 15 were consecutive from 1979-1993. She was also Thunder Bay Zone Champion, Northern Ontario singles champion and was on many ladies winning teams and a bronze medal at the Nationals on the mixed team. Her accomplishments didn't end there. She was also a member of Northern Ontario Master Bowlers, where she claimed numerous trophies and plaques on winning ladies teams and also as a single. They competed at the Nationals and she was named to the All Star Team. Hazel was perfect twice in her life. Once playing cribbage with her father when she was dealt a perfect crib hand and second when bowling a perfect 450 game of 5 pin in 1992 at Playtime lanes. Gardening was a huge part of Hazel's life. She grew a large vegetable garden and as there was plenty to go around at the produce became available she would wash up baskets of fresh veggies and deliver them to seniors living in apartments. Her neighbours were always welcome to whatever she had in the garden. As she approached 70 her veggie garden was cut in half and replaced with more flowers, which she loved. Perennials were her favourite but you could also find cherry, plum and apple trees growing amongst her lovely garden statuary. Gambling was second nature to Hazel. She loved playing cards and when the casino opened, the slot machines took over! Whoo hoo!!. Her favourite saying was "I haven't mortgaged the dog yet, so I guess everything is okay!" Hazel was a life member of the Thunder Bay 5 Pin Association, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5 ladies auxillary, Moose Ladies 1212 and was in the Avon Presidents club. Hazel was predeceased by her parents Hubert and Winnie Smith, daughter Heather Eccleston, brother Donald Smith, sister Dorothy Biggs, brothers-in-law Robert Biggs and Dino DiGuiseppe, sister-in-law Blanche Smith, In-laws Ethel and Thomas Eccleston and her loving husband Thomas David. She is survived by her granddaughter Shannon (Dan) Campbell, sister-in-law Carol DiGuiseppe, longtime friend Mary Zegil and numerous nieces, nephews and wonderful neighbours (you know who you are). A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 in the chapel of Sargent and Son Funeral Home, 21 North Court Street with Suzanne Quirion officiating. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.sargentandson.com.
Memo from Hazel:
"Well, I've planted veggies, flowers, shrubs and trees, but now there's only one planting left...ME! Adieu everyone. Be good to one another. See you.
