It was an honour and pleasure for me to meet Hazel Walker, a remarkable lady who celebrated her 100th birthday at the Bethany Care Centre in Cochrane Feb. 4.
Hazel’s memory is sharp, she has a terrific sense of humor and her laugh is so contagious that you can’t help laughing along with her.
When I told her that I had never met a person who had reached 100 years of age, she said, “It surprised me too, I never thought I would live this long.”
Hazel was born in New Norway, Alta., near Camrose, and attended a two-room schoolhouse to Grade 9. When she heard that a lady was coming to Camrose to conduct a stenographer course, Hazel was anxious to sign up to learn Gregg shorthand and typing. When Hazel completed the course, she was hired as a secretary at the Canadian National Railway office in Edmonton. This was all very modern during this time.
In 1943, Hazel married a farmer, James Walker, but it was wartime and James was in the Canadian Forces stationed in Fort MacLeod. After their wedding, they lived in Fort MacLeod until the war was over. Around 1948, the Veteran’s Land Act granted them two quarters of land east of Camrose near Ohaton.
Hazel and James had two children: a daughter, Maureen Vink, living in Calgary; and a son, Terry Walker, who resides in Leduc. Hazel now has three grandchildren, five great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren.
Hazel and James had a mixed farming operation and eventually developed a purebred Guernsey dairy herd. “It was a happy time on the farm,” said Hazel. “The children loved it. I helped with all the chores, even milking the cows. I also enjoyed sewing and sewed most of my children’s clothes.”
It’s impossible to mention all the changes Hazel has witnessed in 100 years, however one significant change stands out in her mind — when electricity came to their area. “To see the farm yard all lit up at night was beautiful, so much better than trying to work with lanterns,” said Hazel.
The hardest change for Hazel to accept was moving into Bethany Care Centre. “I always said when the time comes for me to go to a nursing home, I would be ready - but it came too soon.”
“After living on the farm for 20 years, the price of grain was very low. James was offered a job as commissionaire at the University of Calgary, so we moved to Calgary.”
Hazel went on to say, “That was the best thing we ever did, as he had a heart problem, only we didn’t know it then. James passed away in 1980.”
When I asked, “What do you attribute to your long life?”, Hazel was quick to answer, “I was always healthy, ate good, healthy food. We didn’t know what junk food was and I didn’t abuse my body.
“I still keep active here at Bethany. I go to exercise classes and I feel good after. I think they help. To stimulate my mind I do puzzle books, I love crossword puzzles and I still write letters.”
Hazel came to the Cochrane Bethany Care Centre in July 2008. When she told me her story of the circumstances in coming to Cochrane, serious as they were, we had a good laugh together.
“One minute, I was in my house, cooking my own meals and then had to go to the hospital. They told me I couldn’t go home again and had to go to a hospice. I was in that hospice for five months and just about died twice. All of a sudden, I started getting better and better,” Hazel said with a chuckle.
“My daughter was looking for a nice place for me to stay and we were so happy that I could get into the Bethany Care Centre in Cochrane. Can you imagine, the staff at the hospice gave me a going-away party when I left.”
Thank you for sharing your story, Hazel, and we wish you many more happy birthdays in Cochrane.
