April 16, 1943 - October 4, 2023
It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of my Mother, our Sister, Aunt, Great Aunt, and friend to many. Predeceased by her loving Husband Gary Dalke. Survived by her daughter Narelle Dalke, siblings Dianne (Michael) Burtnick, Robert (Pam, dec.) Drinnan, Donald (Evelyn) Drinnan and Pepita (Patrick) Bird.
Hazel was born in Cape Town, South Africa. At the age of 18 months, she and her mother immigrated to Australia to join her father and take up permanent residence. The eldest of five siblings, she spent her childhood in the idyllic coastal town of Tumby Bay, South Australia. She was an active ocean swimmer and in 1957-59 she and her teammates were among the first female graduates of the Royal Life Saving - Australia swimming club to obtain the qualification and become lifesavers.
At 17, she left home to pursue her education, attending Thebarton Teachers College in Adelaide, then going on to take her first Governance posting in the Australian territories. A few years later, she returned to Adelaide where she began working as receptionist with the Hotel Adelaide. Originally intending only to apply for the position, discovered soon after arriving at the Hotel that there was no interview. Tired of hearing the phone go unanswered, she let herself in behind the counter, sat down behind the desk and started work.
In 1968 she worked as a travel agent with Kings National Travel Agency, where, as fate would have it, she would go on a spontaneous lunch date with her co-worker and friend. Little did she know she would be introduced to her future husband, Gary. Hazel and Gary married in 1970 and they settled in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada. In 1970 they bought their first home in town and their first business, a small motel which they renovated and renamed to ‘Motel Narelle’.
Between 1970 – 1976, they acquired the Toby Block located on main street in downtown Invermere. The building consisted of 4 commercial spaces on the ground floor, with 3 residential apartments above, successfully maintaining until 2015. Shortly after their daughter was born, they sold ‘Motel Narelle’ and purchased the Lee-Jay Motel. They completely renovated and eventually built the hotel units, now Hillcrest Apartments, maintaining them up until the late 1980’s. Hazel taught herself how to successfully run these businesses in every single aspect from bookings, cleaning crews, scheduling, tenants and financials. She had an incredible work ethic and never asked anyone to do anything she was not willing to do herself.
Hazel became an active member of the Lake Windermere Players, and in 1974 she performed in her first play “Silver Wedding” for which she won Best Actress. In 1975 she played the main character Adelaide, and was the Director of Choreography in the musical production of “Guys and Dolls”. “Guys and Dolls” was Lake Windermere Players’ second annual musical production staged at The Invermere Community Centre. Hazel directed the production of “Little Red Riding Hood” (and The Incredible Jug Band), and starred in the winning entry in the East Kootenay drama festival, Harold Pinter’s “The Lover” (later presented at the B.C. drama festival finals). Hazel also performed as the main character in “The Lover”, for which she won best actress and was runner-up for the direction award. The local paper stated “She maintained an air of ingenuous spontaneity throughout.” Other noteworthy productions: the melodrama “Love Rides The Rails”, “Request Stop” and “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” in 1976. In 1978 she played by far her favorite role - the main character Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” (1980). She directed “Count Dracula” and “The Butler Didn’t Do It” and wrote skits and directed the local Alliance Church Christmas Pageants for several years.
After retirement, Hazel would again return to teaching in the early 90’s, working one-on-one as a tutor with children having difficulty in school and adults learning English as a Second Language. She specialized in auditory learning challenges and facilitating learning through improving coordination. She helped her students build their vocabulary skills and an understanding of similarities and differences of word concepts and to develop and establish an organized base of thought and knowledge necessary for verbal expression. She was enthusiastic and helpful, serving not only as a tutor for several students, both adults and children, but was also on the Community Advisory Committee and part of the noon hour supervision team at Eileen Madson Primary School for many years.
Hazel had an enthusiastic sense of humour, always on hand with a joke, limerick, or funny story to tell, penning many poems, short stories, and illustrations. She had a lifelong passion for reading, writing, learning, history and watercolour painting. She cared deeply for her family and friends and exemplified caring for others in every aspect of her life. Always on her next project with the aim of caring for others, she created hand made quilts, knitted sweaters, rhubarb flummery, lemon cake, and fantastic fudge brownies, and gifted tumbler tomato plants or one of her many homeopathic remedies from her garden. She was very well known for her spirituality and dedication to her faith and as a person of extremely high moral standards. She was ‘a force to be reckoned with.’ As a friend expressed recently, “She was Hazel.”
In keeping with Hazel’s wishes a graveside service will be held at Mount View Cemetery on Monday, April 15th at 2 p.m. Tea to follow immediately afterwards at the Windermere Community Hall, 4726 North St., Windermere.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Hazel’s name to one of her favorite charities, ICAN or your local Food Bank. In doing so, know that she would tell you, “Bless your little cotton socks.”
