Hazel (Wade) Westle has lived in Prince George for nearly 90 years - here is her brief history.
Hazel Wade was born in Smithers in 1921. Her brother was born in Biggar, Saskatchewan, in 1919 and before that her parents lived in Detroit, Michigan, where her father worked as a photographer.
When the Canadian National Railway bought out the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada in 1919, her father applied and landed a position with the CNR in Biggar, Sask. Two years later, he transferred to Smithers and along came Hazel - the second of eight children.
Hazel was seven years old when her father Francis Desmond Wade was transferred to Prince George in 1928.
They bought a house in Prince George and later they traded that house for another one in South Fort George.
Hazel said, "Back then there was no such thing as a real estate agent or lawyer's heck we didn't even have mortgages back then. If you wanted to move you bought a place on your own or found some one who wanted to make a trade and you did it with a handshake.
"I was raised and schooled in South Fort George on the top of the hill on La Salle and Sixth Avenue and attended the King George V elementary school.
"As children we played in the cemetery, on the paddle wheel boats at Paddlewheel Park and went swimming in the slough and the Fraser River.
"Time went by and my parents bought some property and built a new house on LaSalle Street.
"I went to Baron Byng high school and by that time we were experiencing the Great Depression - better known to us as the hungry thirties.
"I worked for Chuck and Efie Thomas the best friends that I ever had. I helped Efie with her child and her newborn baby until I got married. They were tough times but we got through it."
Hazel met Robert Allen Fenwick Westle in Smithers. He was so smitten with her that he moved to Prince George in order to be with her; they were married in July of 1940.
Hazel said, "Bob first worked at the experimental farm and then he joined the army along with my brother Gordon Desmond Wade back in 1942. He returned to me from the army in December of 1945. He went back to work at the experimental farm and then found work with the forestry department for the next two years.
"My father worked for CN Rail until his retirement and I was happy when Bob decided he wanted to work for the same company. Bob worked for CN Rail until he retired as the shop foreman in 1979 at the age of 65."
"We had four children; I named the first two boys Francis James (deceased) and Robert Allan Fenwick (Germaine - of Prince George) and Bob named the second two which were both girls. He picked the names of Hazel Ann (Jeffery Michael - of Kitimat) and Della Mae (Brian Lanigan - of Prince George) and said that he named them after the two women he loved and admired the most which were me and his mother.
"Our children gave us 11 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.
"Bob passed away in July of 2002 at the age of 88 after being totally paralyzed for three years due to emphysema and other health issues. We were married for 62 years and we had a good life together.
"We had good neighbours and I can still recall Bill and Della Peckham; I grew up with their sons Wilf and Len Peckham and in fact we played together in the same back door yard.
"I have fond memories of Victoria Gutfriend, Doreen Gray, Rose Dorish, Margaret Robertson and my good friend Mary Margaret (Granny) Seymore.
"I attended Granny Seymour's 111th birthday at the home of her caregiver Mrs. Richardson. The local Brownie pack assembled to entertain her. Shortly after that party she went into the hospital where they gave her a very special room of her own.
"I just want to mention that my great grandfather Robert Wallace was born in Scotland and his brother was the historic Walter Wallace who belonged to the Wallace clan which can be traced back to 1829. My great grandmother was Matilda Welch from Belfast, Ireland.
"When Bob retired we bought a motorhome and traveled extensively. We traveled quite a bit with my mother and my sister Dorothy Westle. We had a CN Rail pass and we traveled across Canada.
"One of my best memories was our six-week trip to North Cumberland, England."
Hazel was a stay at home mom and kept busy with her children. She volunteered for the Girl Guides of Canada and served as a commissioner, a Girl Guide leader and a Brownie leader. She did the books for the local guides for several years until her good friend Bea Dezell took over the responsibility.
Hazel joined the Moose Hall in 1965 and 53 years later she is still one of their members. She said, "We carpet bowled every Tuesday, we had fun and I loved it.
"I sold my house in 2015 and moved into the Casa Royale so that I could carpet bowl at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre next door. It wasn't long and due to health issues, I was hospitalized for six months and I went into the Gateway Lodge assisted living facility. I spent another three months in the hospital and now I am at the Parkside Care Facility where the staff is wonderful and I am quite content.
"I will be 97 years old in July and I am proud to say that I am the oldest resident here at Parkside."
