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Hazel Heinz- autobiography


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BC: This book was made with love as a tribute to my amazing Great-Grandma, Hazel Heinz. | By Delanie Murphy

FC: The story of my Great-Grandma... | Hazel Heinz

1: Hazeldell (Hazel) J. Johnson-Heinz was born on December 9, 1921. Her father always resented the fact that she was not a boy and even named her after an ex-girlfriend. She never liked her name. Hazel had two brothers, Don and Dale, and one sister named Jennee. At this time, Jenny and Hazel are the only two living siblings. | I asked Grandma Heinz what events were the most important in her life. This book will describe the most significant periods in her life. | Hazel

2: School Years Hazel and her family moved to Eureka, Illinois when she was a kid. The children walked one mile to school and back every day! After 4th grade, she moved back to her favorite childhood home. She used a well for water and had no electricity or bathroom in her house. She enjoyed climbing roses, lilac bushes, fruit, berries, and asparagus. She lived on five acres with a creek. | Some interesting facts during this time: *When the canning factory closed down, farmers burned their corn for fuel. *There was a college in Eureka. One of the big men on campus was named "Dutch" Reagan. Years later, he became President Ronald Reagan.

4: Some students thought Hazel was a Native American because of her complexion. She was an excellent ball player. In 5th and 6th grade, she began to love learning and admire her teachers. During her childhood, her parents had made her feel that she wasn't valuable and precious. She wanted to get a good education to prove to herself and her mom that she was worth keeping. | Some interesting facts during this time: *Hazel's mom raised chickens, then cooked and canned them to sell. *Her dad was still looking for work and would walk 20 miles to Peoria, Illlinois to find work, but none was found.

5: The family moved back to Peoria so that Hazel's sister could finish school. Hazel got a job picking strawberries. Her brother, Don, got sick and it took their parents years to pay off his hospital bill. Jenny graduated and moved back to Eureka.

6: College Days During her first year of college, there was a beautiful morning that made her happy to be alive. Her landlady gave her name to sailors so they could write to her. She worked for $ .25 an hour in college. One of the sailors she wrote to came to meet her. His name was Albert Heinz. The sailor visited every weekend and proposed to her and she said "yes". They were invited to church and decided to go. She liked church so much that she became a Sunday School teacher. Five years after marriage, she committed her life to the Lord. The next night, her husband did the same thing.

8: The Great Depression The war brought shortages and rationing. One needed coupons to buy some items. Meat, butter, sugar, and coffee wer some of the rationed foods. This made for some creative cooking, including making "peanutbutter meatloaf." Shoes, tires and gasoline were also rationed. Many other things were in short supply. It was a very difficult time for our country. | Occupations Hazel worked as a teacher for many years. Albert was in the Navy, worked in a paint factory, served as a Lutheran pastor, became a teacher, and was also a school principal.

9: Family Difficulty After Hazel's father had died, her mother got sick. Hazel spent a lot of time taking care of her mother. When her mother died, she called her brothers to let them know. While she was making arrangements after her mother died, her brothers came in and stole everything from her mother's house. This caused a lot of hurt and Hazel did not speak to her siblings for many, many years thereafter.

10: Motherhood In 1943, Hazel gave birth to their first child, Ruth Frances Heinz. In 1945, they welcomed their first son, Steven Albert Heinz. And in 1950, their last child, Edward Andrew Heinz joined the family. | My Great-Grandma | My Grandma Ruth

11: The move from Illinois to Arizona | In 1945, Albert and Hazel moved to Arizona. When Albert was discharged from the Navy, he and Hazel decided to move to Illinois. After enduring a few cold winters and with Hazel being pregnant again, the family moved back to sunny Arizona with Hazel's parents.

12: Steven, Andy, and Ruth | Albert and Hazel's children

13: Hazel's life-long love, Al, passed away on December 28, 2004. The day he died, we were fortunate to have just spent the day celebrating Christmas with him and his children and their children.

14: Present Day Hazel Heinz still resides in Peoria, Arizona in the house that her late husband built more than 50 years ago. She enjoys visits from her children, her six grandchildren, and her four great-grandchildren. The children love to play card games with Hazel and she loves to sit back and admire their youth. Hazel is an inspiration to all who know her. She is a lovely, caring, wise, and generous woman.

17: In 1996, Hazel's grandchildren (at the time) worked together to create this poem that sums up what a wonderful woman Hazel Heinz is! What Grandma Means to Us (by Erin, Brian, Suzanne, Jeff, Jacquelyn and Annalice) Listening to the ocean in a shell or looking at it together in California or Hawaii, where we all love to spend time together. Taking a bath in the laundry room sink. Riding in the little blue car or on the back of her bicycle on the way to Bible School. Playing in leaf piles and on the Slip-and-Slide. Swinging on the swing or the patio bars. Learning to understand our parents. Jumping on the bed and even sleeping in it sometimes. Playing Hand-and-Foot. Eating Saf-T-Pops and apricots and grilled cheese sandwiches. Getting our first roller skates or Millennium Falcons or holiday money to spend together at MetroCenter. Looking for roadrunners in the back yard. Snuggling together on the army blanket, watching shooting stars. And always, always knowing we are loved.

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