Shrewsbury – Hazel R. O”Brien, in her 100th year, passed away peacefully Monday, April 29, 2013 at home.
Hazel, lovingly known to her nieces and nephews as “Auntie Yois,” was born Oct. 25, 1913 in the Greendale section of Worcester, daughter of the late George A. and Mary (McGourty) O”Brien. Her family moved to Shrewsbury in 1921, where her parents had purchased a small dairy farm. She was raised in Shrewsbury and graduated from the Major Howard Beal High School in 1933 and had been a proud Shrewsbury resident since.
Hazel had worked for over 30 years as a secretary and shipping clerk for the Norton Company in Worcester before she retired in 1979.
She always loved being with young people throughout her life; she was very involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews. Hazel was blessed with the art of conversation, especially when the topics were politics or current events. A social butterfly, she eagerly embraced any opportunity to create a friend out of a stranger. Hazel was a talented painter; she enjoyed all types of arts and crafts and loved to crochet.
She was a faithful member of Saint Anne's Church and its Women's League; a member of the Shrewsbury Senior Center and St. Mary's Church Jet Set Group; a member and Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Victor R. Quaranta American Legion Post; and a former member of the Shrewsbury Grange and the Shrewsbury Business Women's Club.
She was predeceased by her three brothers, Patrick, Kenneth, and John O”Brien; a sister, Mildred (O”Brien) Iovieno; a nephew, Paul O”Brien; and a great-nephew, Jeffrey O”Brien.
She leaves her nieces and nephews, Scott O”Brien and his wife Marilyn of Shrewsbury, Susan Iovieno-Sunar and her late husband Erdogan of Wrentham, Frank Iovieno and his wife Paula of Shrewsbury, Kathy LeBoeuf and her husband Ray of Shrewsbury, and Tom Iovieno and his wife Penny of Foxboro; seven great-nieces and nephews; a great-great-niece and nephew; and cousins and many special friends.
Her funeral was held May 2 from the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, with a funeral Mass celebrating her life in Saint Anne's Church and burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Saint Anne's Human Services, 130 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
