Hazel A. Vasecka

Hazel Vasecka, 95 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Diamond Willow in Little Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Monday, October 17, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN. Burial will take place in Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples, MN. A visitation will be held from 4-7 P.M. on Sunday and from 10-11 A.M. on Monday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. A parish prayer service will be held at 6:30 P.M. on Sunday evening at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. Hazel Buckingham was the second oldest of nine children born to Donald and Alice Buckingham on October 17, 1920. She attended country school through the eighth grade. After graduating from Park Rapids High School, she attended one year of normal teacher training. She accepted her first teaching position at the age of 17 in the rural school district #40 in Wadena County, MN. After teaching in five rural schools, she continued her 40 year teaching career at the Motley and Verndale Public Schools, where she was awarded teacher of the year in 1979. Her pioneering spirit and life-long quest for learning was an inspiration to all who knew her. Hazel lived her Christian faith everyday by her generosity, kindness, good humor, and passion for helping those most in need. She shared her special talents as an accomplished seamstress, quilt maker, gardener and gifted many with her homemade lemon meringue pies. Up until 1994, she was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, MN where she served in the Mission Group and chaired the funeral lunch committee for many years. She has been a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls for the past 20 years. She was also a member of MEA, NEA and the VFW Auxiliary. Hazel’s greatest joys were her loving family and being able to help anyone in need. Her legacy will live on in the life lessons she taught us everyday. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Hazel is survived by her daughters, Peggy (Charlie) Martin of Little Falls, MN and Deb (Chuck) Schey of Lake Shore, MN; sisters, Dorothy Huggett of Portland, OR and Laura Burton of Embarrass, MN; grandchildren, Gina (Chris) Daniels, Jennifer (Keith) Miley, Maria (Jon) Gayken, Paul (Megan) Martin and Matthew Martin; great-grandchildren, Hannah and Grant Miley, Kennedy, Riah, Ayla and Colton Gayken. Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard J. Vasecka; infant son, Bernard; daughter, Patricia Madzo; brothers, Donald and Robert; and sisters, Gladys, Esther, Norma and Bertha. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Unity Family Hospice, Minnesota State Services for the Blind and St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

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Hazel A. Vasecka

October 17, 1920 - October 11, 2016