Obituary of Hazel Esther Read
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It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother, Hazel Esther (Ruggles) Read who died very unexpectedly on Monday, June 3, 2024. She was predeceased by her parents, James Melbourne Ruggles and Vera Blanche (Rafuse) Ruggles; siblings Isabel MacAulay, Helen Jenkins, Lawrence Ruggles, Doris Power, Harold Ruggles and Vernon Ruggles. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Read (of nearly 66 years), son Paul (Sheryl) Read, daughter Wendy (Jeff) Tingley, grandchildren David, Shae, Lara MacDonald (Connor), and Gillian. She is also survived by brother Alison Ruggles, sister Ella Jean Costly, many nieces and nephews, and in laws Marilyn (Bill) Mullin and Weldon (Stella) Read.
Hazel was born in the small village of Glenmore in the beautiful Musquodoboit Valley on April 18, 1936. After high school, she moved to Halifax and met the love of her life, Kenneth Read in January 1957. They were married on July 5, 1958. Hazel was employed at Simpsons Sears in the mail order office where her very neat penmanship served her well in this role. She also worked at Eaton’s mainly in the Lingerie department for 22 years until it closed in 2002.
Hazel was a Life member of the Bedford United Church Women serving over 40 years in the Fellowship unit. She was a superb cook and baker as she would prepare many delicious dinners always with a variety of choices with great care of hospitality and love. She was well known for her prize-winning strawberry rhubarb pie.
She kept her mind active with word searches, lexicons, crosswords and crypto quotes (with a little help from Ella Jean Costley and Muriel Stone). She also enjoyed playing crib with her condo mates, reading biographies and watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Coronation Street, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars and Turner Classic movies.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life gathering will take place at T.J. Tracey Funeral Home, 71 McQuade Lake Cres., Halifax, NS on Friday June 14, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Interment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Hazel’s honor to the Bedford United Church Women Fellowship Unit, the Canadian Cancer Society of Nova Scotia or a charity of your choice.
We will all miss her beautiful smile and wonderful hugs she always gave. Love you and will miss you.
