Hazel May (Armsworthy) Brooks – February 12, 1912 – February 11, 2013, of New Glasgow, formerly of Ashmore and Digby, passed away in New Glasgow at High Crest Place, Provost Street, the day before her 101st birthday. She was the last living member of her immediate family.
She is survived by step-sons LeRoy (Pauline) Brooks of Dartmouth and Keith Brooks of Deer Lake, Newfoundland, grandchildren Mitchell (Deena) Brooks of Barrie, Ontario, Steven (Janice) Brooks of Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, and Elizabeth Humber of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Doha, Qatar, nephew Gary Miller of Amherst, and niece Joan Miller of New Glasgow, as well as several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews, and special friend Elizabeth Drapeau of New Glasgow.
Hazel was born in New Glasgow, the eldest child of Howard and May (Wilcox) Armsworthy.
She attended Normal College in Truro in 1929, began teaching in 1930, and retired in 1977 with 47 years of service. During her lengthy career she taught in Cumberland County (Nappan, Collingwood, and Spencer’s Island), Colchester County (Middle Stewiacke), Pictou County (Glencoe, Lower Barney’s River, Merigomish, and New Glasgow), and Digby County (Digby and Barton). She married Stanley Brooks of Digby County in 1956 and moved to Ashmore and then Digby, where she lived until her return to New Glasgow in 2003.
Hazel was deeply committed both to teaching and to her church. She was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and at the time of her death was that church’s longest continuously serving member. While in Ashmore, she was also a faithful adherent of Bethel United Baptist Church, and she was a choir member at both St. Andrew’s and Bethel United Baptist churches. In her younger years, she was CGIT Superintendent at St. Andrew’s, as well as a member of the Guild and the AMS. She also served as a counselor at the Presbyterian Synod’s Camp Geddie in Merigomish.
Hazel was admitted to the Rebekah Lodge #108 on March 26, 1932. She and Stanley were both ham radio operators; Hazel’s call sign was VE1 ALA. During her long life Hazel also enjoyed quilting, knitting, weaving, reading, board games, cooking, travelling, playing piano, and painting water colours. She had a full life, greatly enriched by her career, her varied church work, her hobbies, and, most importantly, by her marriage to Stanley.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Stanley, her brothers Charles and Carl, and her sister Evelyn (Miller).
Visitation will take place from 1 p.m. until the time of service at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the H.W. Angus Funeral Home Chapel, New Glasgow with Rev. Richard Sand presiding. Burial will take place in the Riverside Cemetery, Weymouth North at a later date.
Donations in Hazel’s memory may be made to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bethel United Baptist Church, Riverside Cemetery Society, the Canadian Bible Society, or any charity of choice.
www.angusfuneralhomes.com