Hazel Wells-Bryzek

Hazel Marie Vanoer Daniel Wells-Bryzek unexpectedly passed away on Aug. 2, 2017. She was 78 years old and her family says that she lived the way she wanted and she died the way she wanted - no fanfare, no carrying on; just quick and to the point. Hazel was born at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Nov. 29, 1938. She grew up in Avondale with aunts and uncles aplenty and she loved them all. They were always together and were consummate competitors in Canasta, Rook, Dominoes and anything else that could allow them time together and some healthy competition. She moved to Illinois after graduating from Chattanooga Central H.S. in 1936. Hazel loved American football, especially her beloved Chicago Bears. She also loved traveling and the adventure of new places and new experiences. She bowled semi-professionally throughout her life, played tennis competitively, bungeed in New Zealand, golfed in Fiji, and skied on three different continents. To say she lived a full life is a platitude not worthy of the pure love Hazel had for life. She was married to three different men and outlived them all. She was bold and she lived bold to the very end. Hazel worked for 38 years at the Commercial Plastics Company, where incidentally, she was known as H. Marie Wells-Bryzek. Later, people would ask her about the H. Marie would just smile and tell them that the H was for, “Heavenly.” Hazel Marie started at Commercial Plastics as an Executive Secretary, and, eventually became the head of the Quality Control Department and took over the bookkeeping and payroll duties when a co-worker suddenly retired. Years later, when Hazel Marie retired, she gave two years notice and it still took three people to fill her job, when she left. After retiring, she began volunteering for United Veterans Services at the James A. Lovell V.A. complex. In the last few years, Hazel’s passion turned to Bridge. She loved the game so much, she coordinated two Senior Bridge leagues in Libertyville and Mundelein. Hazel was classy, flashy, sassy and brash. She had moxie and she was a Great Friend. She will be missed by so many. In her family, she is survived by uncles, Bert Vanoer (Martha), Clyde Vanoer (Lavada); sister-in-law, Guillermina Navarro Vanoer; sister-cousin Helen Dillon (Demaree); daughter, Dana Daniel Black; grandchildren, Alex and Kelsey Bryzek; nieces, Amber Wicker (Troy) and Rosaline Elliston (Richard) and her nephew, Robert “Rog” Carl Vanoer Jr., (Deborah Johnson); several great-nieces, nephews and cousins. A visitation will be held today, Sept. 8, 2017, from 10 a.m. to noon with a celebration of life to follow at noon with Rev. Mark Carpenter officiating. Arrangements are held by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com