Hazel Laura Wallingford

In celebration and remembrance of Hazel Laura Wallingford, 83, born in Alfred, Maine April 23, 1920, the daughter of Beatrice (Cluff) and Harry Otis Wallingford, passed from this life Friday, April 9, 2004 at the Kennebunk Nursing Center.Hazel always loved her family roots in Alfred. Her mother Beatrice, was town clerk for many years. As a child she lived beside the York County Courthouse and remembers the night it burned, watching it with her sister Ethel and brother, Kenneth.While in Alfred, Hazel graduated from Alfred High School and joined and remained a life long member of the Fern Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. Her working career began after graduation with New England Telephone and Telegraph in Sanford.In her late 30's, Hazel moved to Montgomery, Alabama and continued her telephone company career. Hazel loved driving her 1958 Chevrolet convertible, which was turquoise with white leather interior and enjoyed taking her nieces and nephew for long rides.Hazel experienced history in the making as she stood on the roof of her office building and watched Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his followers as they ended their march from Selma to Montgomery. She retired from Bell South in 1978, when "the computers took over." She was a proud member of the Telephone Pioneers.Hazel was devoted to her family. In 1979, she moved to Hollywood, Florida to care for her sister Ethel, who had developed multiple sclerosis. She continued her independent life keeping close contact with neighbors, family and friends. She loved visiting the ocean, taking long rides and going out for ice cream.March 28, 2000, Hazel returned to Maine, after suffering a stroke. Even then, she always had a sweet, gentle manner and a twinkle in her eye.Her parents, and sister, Ethel and brother, Kenneth, predecease her."Auntie" will be sadly missed and remembered with laughter and joy by her "family" of caregivers at the Kennenbunk Nursing Center; niece Susan Wallingford and John Lehmus of Kennebunk; niece Barbara (Wallingford) and Mac Ingalls of Lyman; nephew Bruce and Diana Wallingford of Nantucket, MA; great-niece Kelly Arp of Newburyport, MA; great-nephews Bryan Saurman of Wells and Keith and Kyle Wallingford of Nantucket, MA and Michael Ingalls of New York City. To Hazel's beautiful, gentle spirit we say, "smile on sweet woman."There will be no calling hours. Committal Services will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Alfred, Saturday, May 8, 2004 at 11:00 AM.Hazel's family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Parson's Memorial Library, PO Box 1065, Alfred, Maine 04002 specifically toward the "purchase of audio/visual materials."