Hazel P. (Simpson) MacDonald

Hazel P. MacDonald Athol – Hazel P. (Simpson) MacDonald, 102, Athol's second oldest resident formerly of Pinedale Ave. and Applewood Home for Elders died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare.      Hazel was born in New Jersey, New Brunswick, Canada on June 30, 1909, the daughter of Byron and Janet (Cassidy) Simpson.  She grew up in New Brunswick where she attended schools and at the age of 19 moved to Athol with her family.  Since 2006 has resided at Applewood Home for Elders.      Hazel was a member of the Starrett Memorial United Methodist Church, enjoyed skating, swimming and snow shoeing which she did until the age of 85.  She enjoyed traveling and had taken a month long bus trip across the United States which she fondly remembered.  She especially enjoyed seeing the “Golden Arches” in St. Louis, MO.  She also traveled to Canada every year with her husband to visit family.  Hazel volunteered at the American Red Cross local blood bank for many years.  She worked at the L. S. Starrett Company in her early years returning again after her family was grown until her retirement.  A favorite joy was eating a good lobster, which she would eat everything especially loving the tomalley.  Above all Hazel was a real family person enjoying her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was small but mighty, the cog in the wheel that always kept the family together.      She leaves a son, Mark A. MacDonald and his wife Sandy of Athol; six grandchildren, Kimberly, Lynn, Donald, Beth, Sasha and Kyra; ten great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband of  37 years, Alden MacDonald in 1969, a son Vernon B. MacDonald, a daughter Janet Landry, a daughter-in-law Jean (Trevors) MacDonald, a granddaughter, Susan, a sister Lottie Crawford and five brothers, Mervyn, William, Olaf, John and Joslyn  who was killed in WW II and lost at sea in the U.S. Navy in 1942.      A graveside service will be held Monday, March 12, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Silver Lake Cemetery in Athol (upper section off Horrigan Ave.) with the Rev. Adam Randazzo, pastor of Starrett Memorial United Methodist Church, officiating.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in Hazel’s name be made to:  the Athol Area United Way, 545 Main St., Athol, MA  01331.      Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol is directing arrangements.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com.   $(document).ready(function(){ });