Hazel Winnington-Ingram

Our loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Hazel Ingram, passed away peacefully, at home, early Tuesday morning. During her brief illness, she was blessed to have the opportunity to say goodbye to her family and friends.  The visitor's list was long, the stories funny and the memories heartwarming.  Her final days were filled with laughter, hugs and tears.

The afternoon before she passed, her children (Sue, Brenda, Phyllis, Brian, Jimmie, Doug M, Doug I and Angie) gathered around her. She held each one of them and told them how much she loved them.  Even with all the tears, she managed to bring humour, noting that she had finally created the miracle she had always wished for…having all of her children together in one spot at the same time.

Hazel was SO loved

Hazel grew up during the '30s and '40s and loved to reminisce about her time growing up on the family farm in Milford Bay.  She would often share the wild antics and practical jokes between her four rambunctious brothers Ronnie, Rolland, Victor and Hector.  Her younger and much-loved sister, Sharon, provided the needed calm. She also adored all of her aunts and uncles (Violet, Louis, Georgina, Frances, Nora, George, Rosie, Laura, Bessie, Jim (who died in the war, causing her to have strong emotional ties to the Legion) and Peck) who provided great fun and loving-kindness as she grew up.

Hazel was the quintessential mother to 8 children, grandmother to 15, great-grandmother to 15, and great -great-grandmother to one.  She was also the adopted 'mother' to a plethora of daughters and sons-in-laws, who all loved her deeply.

Hazel loved to dote on her family as much as they loved to have fun with her.  Anyone who knew Hazel knew that she 'loved' Elvis. This past January, several of her granddaughters decided to surprise her by having Elvis come and serenade her outside her home on Milton Street.   True to form, Hazel put on her winter coat and boots and ended up dancing in her driveway.

To all that knew her, Hazel was limitless love.  She was an unsung hero to homeless children, needy seniors, and family and friends who may be struggling through a particular season of life.  She loved animals, especially her constant feline companion 'Turtle.’

Hazel was also known far and wide for her passion for baking, sandwich making and serving meals to those who were ill and or in need.  She belonged to the Knox Presbyterian Church Ladies Auxiliary and Pie Ministry, where she was known as 'queen' of pie crimping and unofficial pie inspector.

Hazel was also the 'sandwich fairy,' making sandwiches and deserts regularly for Pie Ministry volunteers, funerals, seasonal teas and church bazaars, and her favourite ladies' weekly Bid Euchre on Thursday night at the Seniors Centre.

Along with her many skills, she was also the ultimate butter tart maker.  Her recipe required a perfectly flakey crust with the right amount of filling.  She could bake them by the hundreds and loved to teach anyone, young or old, the art of pastry making.  She even gave out special brownie points, along with extra butter tarts, if you liked to clean up after her!

Hazel was a woman of boundless energy, whether it was assisting at the Church, supporting the Bracebridge Legion as a flag bearer in numerous parades, including in the Rose Bowl Parade and once in Scotland, as well as the Women's Auxiliary and their poppy campaign.  She enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Ball Babies team and the Seniors league, as well as curling at the South Muskoka Golf and Curling Club.

Hazel was also a 'social bunny' and relished any event that got her together with old and new friends.  She belonged to the Utterson Live Wires and the Bracebridge Seniors Centre.  She loved to play cards, take cruises, trips to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, concerts, dancing, karaoke (especially with grandchildren), camping and large bonfires.  In her spare time, she also quilted, crocheted and took flying lessons in her 60's.

Hazel was an extraordinarily hard worker.  She started as a nanny, worked for years at Simpsons and the Dairy Bar, was a partner in HG Ingram, a local wholesale business, and ended her career at the Pines after earning her health care aide degree later in life.

Hazel embodied an excess of endearing attributes that made her magnetic to those both young and old.  Her physical beauty was only surpassed by her engaging laugh, sparkling eyes and her love of people.

She was cherished and loved by all that knew her.  Her strength, steadfastness, resilience and values have empowered her family members to live a life of purpose, generosity and service.  Her legacy will live on with all who had the good fortune to know her.

We would like to give a special thank you to Jessica Ward, Hazel's granddaughter, for her support in providing end-of-life care so Hazel could live out her days at home.

In lieu of flowers, Hazel requested that donations be made to the Manna Food Bank https://mannafoodbank.ca/ or Interval House (Women’s Shelter) https://www.mwag.ca/

Hazel's family included her parents Henry (Harry) Melrose Hillman & Mildred Blanche Chisholm; her siblings: Ronnie Hillman (Fran); Rolland Hillman (deceased); Victor (Lynn) Hillman; Hector (Joanne) Hillman; Sharon (Steve) Matchett; her children: Susan (Dennis) Mullen-Gibson; Brenda (Gary) Staines; Phyllis (Gene) Ingram-Finch; Brian (Karen) Ingram; James (Wendy) Mullen; Douglas (Margaret) Mullen; Douglas (Lori) Ingram; and Angela Ingram; her grandchildren: Joseph, Heather, Lisa, Jessica, Mary, Serena, Adam, Jennifer, Christy, Melissa, Libby, Emma, Abigail, Shelby and Grace; her great-grandchildren: Courtney, Jayde, Alexa, Aurora, Raymond, Bentley, Rowan, Vincent, Bryton, Kai, Dana, Anthony, Lilly, Violet, Connor; and her great-great-grandchild: Kaleb.

May her spirit soar amid the angels and continue to spread love amongst the stars