Hazel Hicks, 88

Hazel E. Hicks, 88, of Sturgis, died April 23 at her home, where she had lived with her daughter and son-in-law since 2004.

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday and 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Sturgis Missionary Church, 67080 N. M-66, Sturgis.

A service celebrating the life of Hazel E. Hicks will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Her son-in-law, the Rev. Paul Woods, will officiate. A lunch for friends and family will be offered following the funeral. A graveside committal will take place at 3 p.m. at East Gilead Cemetery in Gilead Township.

Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is entrusted with the arrangements.

Hazel was born Jan. 1, 1924, in East Gilead, to Hugh and Elizabeth (Heckman) Burch.

On Sept. 11, 1952, she married William N. (Bill) Hicks in Angola, Ind.

Mrs. Hicks was employed at Midwest Foundry in Coldwater for 15 years. Hazel and Bill enjoyed selling together at flea markets for several years. Hazel was a kind, caring woman who was always willing to sacrifice for someone else. She loved doing word searches, and would never turn down a piece of pie! She had a lot of fun while she went about her life: She liked to make others laugh and she definitely had a silly streak.

After retiring, she volunteered at the Senior Center in Coldwater, where friends often called her “Sassy.” Even in her later years, while losing her memory from dementia, she retained her sense of humor and frequently offered a wisecrack. Hazel had a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face that charmed many.

She will be missed by her loving family. Surviving are her daughters, Patricia (Paul) Woods and Peggy (Jim) Modert of Sturgis; daughters-in-law Roxanne and Dawn Hicks of Coldwater; 11 grandchildren, Matthew (Bethany) Hicks, Joshua (Christine) Woods, Amanda (Walt) Marler, Aaron Modert, Abby (Don) Lahnum, Adrian Hicks, Nathan Woods, Adam Modert, Bryce Hicks, Rachel Woods and Angela Hicks; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Joe Ferry of Coldwater; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Hicks was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her two sons, Bruce and Terry; her parents; her brothers, Donald, Versal, Randall and Clarence Burch; and her sisters, Alice Martin, Wilma Herring, Wava Auten, Helen Shafer and Maxine Ferry.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Hicks’ memory consider a gift to Sturgis Missionary Church, 67087 N. M-66, Sturgis, MI 49091.

Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.