Date of Birth: June 8, 1925
Date of Death: February 24, 2022
Hazel Doreen Francis of Whitewood, SK, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, at the age of 96 years.
Hazel was born on June 8, 1925, on the farm near Neville, SK, the nineth of 11 children born to Edward and Mary Carleton. She attended country school and had many stories of walking or riding horses to school and the mischief of the boys.
Hazel started working out at an early age, looking after the homes and children of others. At 17 years old, she was cooking for threshing crews by herself.
Hazel met a teenage Donald John Francis when he was working on a farm near Rosetown. They communicated while Don was overseas during WWII and were married on Sept. 12, 1946. They established their home in Whitewood and had four children: Terry, Ken, Beverly and Leonard.
Hazel and Donald worked side by side in several ventures, including a mink farm and large-scale turkey farm, an ambulance service and a funeral director service. After Donald took an auctioneer course, they established Francis Auction Service, conducting home and farm auctions and operating a livestock auction mart. A fire destroyed the auction barn in 1964, but with community support, they immediately rebuilt it, bigger and better. Throughout, Hazel managed the home and the children, maintained a large garden and enjoyed baking, cross stitching and quilting.
Donald died in 1986. For several years after, Hazel enjoyed her winters in Texas and Arizona, driving back and forth by herself until she was well into her 80s.
Hazel was a strong, independent woman, a respected and beloved role model for all women in her family, especially her granddaughters.
Hazel was predeceased by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband, Donald, her son Ken, and son-in-law John Wehlen. Hazel is survived by son Terry (Helen), daughter Beverly Wehlen, son Leonard (Carol), daughter-in-law Isabelle, 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Hazel’s funeral service was held Thursday, March 3, 2022, at the Whitewood Legion Community Hall with Heather McEwen officiating. Tributes to Hazel’s life were presented by granddaughters Kristy Derksen, Loretta Campbell and Jackie Reid. Scriptures were read by granddaughters Tammy Francis, Dana Laboucane and Terri-Lynn Bolink. The pallbearers were grandsons and great-grandsons Kory Francis, Kevin Francis, Jody Francis, Nigel Francis,
Brenton Francis and Anthony Francis. Interment took place in the Whitewood Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Whitewood and Melville.
The family of Hazel Francis would like to thank everyone for the kindness shown on her passing. To Broadview and Moosomin hospitals on the excellent care she received in both places. To Matthews Funeral Home for their wonderful and caring service. To friends, family and neighbors for food, messages, phone calls of condolences. To Heather McEwen for the beautiful service. The Legion and church ladies for the lunch afterwards. To Ken and Donna Matsalla for the use of their yard for family parking. Thanks again to one and all.
