- Date Of Birth: September 16, 1923
- Date Of Death: January 12, 2010
- State: Michigan
Hazel M. Riley, (nee Reeder), died on Tuesday, January 12 at Heartland Health Care Center of Ionia. She was employed by the City of Ionia for 22 years. During her lifetime she had held jobs at Newell Manufacturing Company, Mitchell Bentley, Sears Roebuck, and Meijer. She was 86 and had lived in Ionia for over 60 years.
Hazel was born in Plymouth, Michigan on September 16, 1923, to Wilson G. and Florence (Nacker) Reeder. She graduated from Carson City High School in 1941.
The 17-year-old brunette met Thomas W. Riley of Hubbardston at a dance in Vickeryville. They were married May 8, 1943. Tom died in February 2000. Also preceding her in death were her parents, and older sister, and three brothers.
While taking a special interest with the less fortunate in the local area, her generosity also extended to the disadvantaged throughout the USA, many of whom she had never met. She denied herself in order to financially aid those in need.
A selfless volunteer at Saints Peter and Paul (SSPP) Catholic Church in Ionia, she was in charge of the Bingo games for many years and was a counter for the parish’s Sunday offerings.
Hazel, who had a nifty sense of humor, loved people. She was a member of the Ionia Women’s Bowling League for 36 years, culminating with her induction into the Ionia Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1997. She enjoyed her books, country music, and swimming with senior citizens at the YMCA. In addition, she was a life member of the Ionia Community Theater.
During her retirement years, she was a driver for the Ionia County Commission on Aging, transporting the elderly and sick to hospital and doctor appointments in the Ionia area and neighboring counties, as well as Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Ann Arbor.
Survivors are her sister, Betty Willbee of Citrus Heights, California; daughters, Mary (James) Fletcher of West Bloomfield; Barbara (Richard) Mackowiak of Ionia; and Joyce Kowatch of Grand Rapids; 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and one great great grandson.
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