MARLBOROUGH – Hazel D. (Donnelly) Miele passed away peacefully on Friday, April 8, 2022 at UMass Memorial Hospital, Worcester, MA, at the age of 85.
She was born to the late William J. Donnelly and the late Lillian (Graham) Donnelly on April 27, 1936.
Hazel will be missed by her devoted husband of nearly 68 years, Benedetto A. Miele of Marlborough, MA. She is also survived by her loving children, daughter Brenda Miele Soares, of Hudson, MA, son Benedetto A. Miele, Jr. and wife Patricia, of Holliston, MA, daughter Judith Miele Keyser and husband Greg, of Sammamish, WA and his son Eric Miele and his wife Carie, of Leominster, MA; his brother Walter Donnelly, of FL and his brother-in-law, Roy Miele of FL. She is also survived by eight beloved grandchildren, Katherine Miele Kistner, Matthew Miele, Christopher Miele, Heather Keyser, Harrison Keyser, Holly Keyser, Victoria Miele and Eric Miele Jr., as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brother William “Sonny” Donnelly.
Hazel was born on April 27, 1936. She graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School in 1953 and proudly graduated with a BA from Framingham State College in 1986.
Hazel began her career at the Polaroid Corporation, then served for many years as Associate Dean of Administration and Education at the Florence Heller Graduate School at Brandies University.
Additionally, she has given her time and talents to the community by being elected and serving on the Marlboro School Committee.
During her tenure on the council, she advocated for the construction of a new high school and was the only person to serve on both the building committee and the school committee at the time of the grand opening of Marlboro High School. in 1976.
Hazel also served on the Marlboro Hospital Board of Trustees.
As a voracious reader and writer, Hazel enjoyed publishing fictional and non-fictional articles in local newspapers. She was an active member of the Friends of the Marlboro Public Library; she was an integral part of the Berlin Elderly Council on Aging, serving as its president for many years. Hazel was also a past president of the Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Middlesex Chapter. She was dedicated to genealogical research and she gave many lectures on how to do genealogical research.
Hazel loved to travel and some of her favorite places she visited were Italy, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Seattle where she visited her grandchildren. Hazel had a wonderful sense of humor and captivated her friends and family with compelling stories about history, politics and current affairs.
Hazel was a devoted mother and grandmother to her family. She enjoyed attending each of her children’s weddings and her family’s milestone events – baptisms, confirmations, piano recitals and graduations. His family held a formal anniversary reception to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with Ben, including many of the original members of the wedding party. She and Ben were surprised again for their 60th wedding anniversary. Hazel and Ben were together, a couple and married for 70 years.
Visiting hours will be Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Slattery, Inc. Funeral Home, 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough, MA 01752.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at St. Matthias Church, 409 Hemenway St., Marlborough, MA.
Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Wilson Street in Marlborough.