Hazel Frances Switzer

Hazel Frances Switzer

1929-2019

Hazel Switzer, beloved wife of John, mother to 7, grandmother to 16, great-grandmother to 19 passed away Monday October 7, at 10:10am in Edson. Predeceased by her husband John, father Harold and mother Frances. Surviving are two sisters and one brother and numerous nieces and nephews.

Hazel was the oldest of the four Powers kids, growing up on a Manygate farm just outside of Edson- the bush, the outdoors, miles of walking and fun with her siblings and parents. This was Hazel’s young life. As a teen, Hazel had great energy but was also the very caring and gentle soul we all knew. As a young teen, she saw a beautiful house on 49th Street that would one day become her and John’s home. Hazel also worked a summer in Jasper at Becker’s cabins. Her love of the outdoors, the mountains, and the forest filled with song and green were a constant throughout her long life.

In high school she met John Switzer, the love of her life; they married May of 1947. Their road home at the end was tough for both; but their road of life together was full of love and commitment to family and community sharing their life’s passion with all those around them.

In 1948, Hazel and John welcomed their first child, in 1968 they welcomed their last. Hazel and John’s house was always home and right up until 2013(65 years) Hazel’s love and welcome hosted countless fun: from Halloween candy parties, Christmas with presents for every family member, birthday parties with special cakes, lunch hour feeding of pancakes for hungry teens, Easter trees, summer camping in the yard, roasted bannock on a back yard fire, massive Thanks Giving Dinners, Hockey Night in Canada…

Switzer’s Drug Store was a big part of Hazel’s life – starting in 1985 she began a career working first with John and then son Harold at Switzer’s Drug. Here, her great talent for connecting with and caring for people shone. Hazel loved the store because of the people.

Hazel loved art, poetry, singing, and speaking – her artistic sense, curiosity and singular focus on the positive created a home like no other.

Hazel will be sadly missed by her entire family – but her light, her smile and her true and wonderful nature have made us all better people…”

The family thank the dedicated medical team that cared for her at Long Term Care and the Edson Hospital.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the Long Term Care Hospital Patient Comfort Fund or a charity of your choice.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at the Edson United Church, 1214 Edson Drive, with Reverend Kimberley Roy, officiating.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hazel Frances Switzer, please visit our floral store.