Hazel L. (Dahlberg) Porter

Hazel L. (Dahlberg) Porter, age 107, Litchfield, formerly of South Weymouth, MA, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 29, 2017 at Brandywine of Litchfield.

She was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on May 7, 1910 the fifth of nine children of the late Nils and Carolina (Johnson) Dahlberg. Hazel grew up in Quincy Massachusetts and attended local schools. She was a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School.  She married Arthur W Porter in 1932 and together they raised two daughters, Nancy and Jaine. In the early years, they made their home in South Boston and in 1952 achieved the dream of homeownership in a new subdivision in South Weymouth where Hazel would remain until 2005.

Hazel worked for Jordan Marsh as a supervisor retiring in 1977 after 29 years. She and Art were enthusiastic cruisers and visited many destinations. They also loved to dance and took lessons in ballroom dancing. Art preceded Hazel and death in 1977 but she continued her love for traveling and spending time with family and friends. She adored her yard and was well known in her neighborhood for having a lush and beautiful lawn even in periods of extreme drought, and had an even more extravagant crop of flowers each year.  Hazel was active in the Weymouth Garden Club for many years. She tended her property with great care and mowed her own lawn until the age of 95! In addition to caring for her home, Hazel was a gifted needle pointer and favored many family members with her handiwork. Those pieces will be forever cherished.

Hazel enjoyed the holidays with her daughters, Nancy, who lived in Connecticut and Jaine, who lived in California. She traveled multiple times each year to see both of them. Hazel also had a group of close friends with whom she traveled, saw plays and concerts, and enjoyed many good meals with. Hazel was an excellent cook and also enjoyed dining out with friends and relatives whenever she could.

Hazel was extremely generous to her family which spanned five generations. She maintained a close relationship with her eight siblings for all of their lives. Hazel knew everybody's birthday and anniversary and always sent a card to commemorate each occasion.  She was a proper and proud woman, always bearing herself with dignity and grace.  Hazel loved her family dearly and was beloved by all who knew her. She will be sadly missed.

Hazel leaves her daughter, Nancy Knowlton of Litchfield, her granddaughters Lisa Cocco of Woodbury and Caroline (Billy) Barclay of Center Ossipee, New Hampshire. She will be fondly remembered by her great grandchildren James Beaton of Green Bay, Andrea (Michael) Keeler of Orange Connecticut, Stephanie Hammond, Hillary (John Fasanello) Sullivan of Halifax, Taylor and Kyle Cocco of Woodbury. She is further survived by her great-great grandchildren: Mackenzie Eva, Morgan Porter and Madison Elizabeth Beaton, Nicholas Oathout, Dalton Keeler and Hunter Cocco Mazzacane.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Art of over 44 years, her daughter Jaine Porter Crowley, her sons-in-law Paul Crowley and Lawrence Knowlton, her grandchildren Jeffrey Knowlton, Suzanne Hammond and Stephen Ridley. She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Ivar, Gustav, Agnes, Evelyn, Nellie, Walter, Carl and Nils.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 2, 2017 at 1:00p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 220 Prospect St., Torrington, CT. Burial will be held Saturday, June 3, 2017 at 12:00p.m. in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, MA. Friends may call Thursday, June 1, 2017 from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. at Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington, CT.

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