Hazel Virginia Hutchinson

Hazel Virginia Hutchinson was born to Swedish immigrants in Fairmont, West Virginia in 1919. Her parents came to the United States to operate a glass factory in the Swedish style of glass cutting. The fourth of five children, Hazel was only two when her father passed away. At the tender age of four, she and her four siblings were orphaned with the sudden death of her mother at the age of thirty-two. Hazel and the three youngest children were sent to the Tressler Children’s Lutheran Orphanage in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where they all lived until they turned eighteen. Because of the differences in their ages, Hazel was only able to live in the same building with her closest sister, Ruth. every other year when they both would share the two-year age span that allowed them to be in the same division together. In spite of coming from a large family, Hazel did not have the opportunity to connect with her siblings as a child.

Life in the orphanage was arduous, lonely, and sad. Hazel became self reliant at a very early age, learning to sew her own clothes, wash and clean her belongings, and avoid calling attention to herself for fear of punishment or reprimand. Her childhood was regimented, controlled, and predictable. One week was much like the next; life for her was a matter of survival and endurance. On her eighteenth birthday, she moved out of the orphanage and struck out for Baltimore where she enrolled in secretarial school while working as a housekeeper to earn her tuition. Years later she met and married Harold B Hutchinson who was stationed in the army in Maryland. They moved to Portland where she remained for the rest of her life.

For all of the loneliness that she experienced as a child, Hazel was determined to provide her two children with everything she had longed for. She was an amazing mother filled with unconditional love, support, and guidance. While she was not well-educated or worldly, she had an amazing gift for parenting. She taught us to sew, cook, can food, tat doilies, knit, read, bowl, play card games, garden, clean house, and work hard. She served as both a role model and teacher. Hazel adored her two children and we adored her. She did not speak ill of others and she did not entertain rumors or gossip. Hazel was simple, unpretentious, genuine, and down-to-earth.

Christmas was a special time of year for Hazel. As a child, she did not experience much in the way of celebration or gift giving. As an adult, she more than made up for that loss. Christmas shopping began on December 26 and lasted for 364 days! Holiday preparations for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas were large celebrations with family, food, and laughter. Hazel loved being surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her one and only house was her palace and her refuge. She took pride in her gardens (both vegetable and flower) and preserved many food items to feed the entire family with nutritious foods throughout the year.

Hazel was the kind of caring parent that every child should have the chance to experience. She loved us implicitly (in spite of our mistakes), she supported us daily (even when we did not obey), and she was always willing to forgive and forget. Hazel continued to demonstrate her love of parenting to her four grandchildren and was especially involved in the care of her two youngest grandsons. She was a woman of few words, humble means, and quiet servitude. Hazel Virginia Anderson Hutchinson was the best mother and grandmother anyone could ever have.

Written by: Betty Hutchinson Flad, daughter; Robert Raymond Hutchinson, son; Todd Christopher Hutchinson, grandson; Tiffany Christine Hutchinson Wiencken, granddaughter; Rian James Flad, grandson; and Eric Adam Flad, grandson