Hazel Virginia Lee, 95, of New Haven, departed this life on Monday, July 8, 2019.
She was born to the late Manuel and Virginia Davis Lopes on February 7, 1924, the youngest daughter of six children. Hazel was educated in the New Haven Public Schools system.
Hazel was an old New Havener and her family lineage is as culturally rich as the community in which she was nurtured.
Her grandfather the Reverend John Wesley Davis, a North Carolina native, served as Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church’s pastor.
He led the planning of their new building and purchased the Old Parsonage at 13 Charles Street.
Her father Manuel was one of thousands of Cape Verdeans that immigrated to the United States during the early 1900’s, landing first in New Bedford, Massachusetts and then settling in New Haven. Manuel, a devout Roman Catholic, was involved in the establishment of St. Martin’s Church. Hazel’s mother Virginia the daughter of an AME minister and wife of a Roman Catholic brought her children to Catholic and AME service on Sundays. In addition to merging their families’ faith traditions, their home at 251 Dixwell Avenue was a space welcoming to extended family and friends.
This faith-based upbringing was instrumental in her family’s comfortability with multiple perspectives, and was the key to her longevity.
Hazel valued her familial community. After graduating from high school she chose to stay local, tend to her parents and younger siblings and to invest in her trusted friendships. She enjoyed culinary delights and worked at Joe’s Barbeque where she met Warren Lee (a Virginia native) who quickly became part of the Lopes family. Hazel and Warren married after a whirlwind 6‑month courtship.
Hazel and Warren were married for 68 years and their love of family was well known. She took great pleasure in raising her five children while Warren worked tirelessly to ensure that their children were well educated. Card playing, game nights, field trips, sleepovers, theater, amusement parks and family vacations were an essential part of this family. Her youthful spirit was exhibited through her many physical activities including power walks and her love of travel. Let’s also recognize her love of UConn Women’s basketball! Extended family members can attest to the good times with Aunt Hazel and Uncle Lee.
This sense of family informed Hazel’s sense of community. She was always willing to help neighboring families with their childcare needs and facilitated youth after-school and summer programming through the Fair Haven Neighborhood Corporation. At the age of seventy she chose to serve as a classroom grandmother at Dwight Early Childhood Learning Center. She remained at the Learning Center for 20 years and considered this mutually rewarding experience one of the highlights of her life.
She leaves to mourn her sons Warren Lee III (Cheryl) and Timothy Lee.; daughters Wendy Lee Brown and Virginia (Ebrahima) Barry; grandchildren Kyle Lee, Danielle Brown, Timothy Lee Jr, Robin Lee McCarthy (John), Lorin Brown, Erica Lee, Rachel Brown, Allyce Lee, Theodore Lee, Ancha Barry, Pamodou Barry and Ramatoulie Barry; great-grandchildren Tanaysia Brown, Jaivon Brown, Jordan Lee, Azalea Brown, Journee Brown, Quin McCarthy and Nyla McCarthy; great-great grandchildren Craig, Malahki, Cameron and Messiah Bostic; beloved sisters-in-laws Carmelita Lopes, Carol Lopes, and Gertrude Lopes; along with a host of special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Hazel was predeceased by her husband Warren Lee; daughter Teresa Lee Brown; brothers, Edward, Raymond and Richard Lopes; sisters Thelma Clark and Vivian Lopes.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Yale Medical Group, Agency on Aging, Dr. Gloria Williams and Sakina Salifu.
A celebration of life will take place Friday, July 19, 2019 at 10:30 AM at St. Martin de Porres Church, 136 Dixwell Ave, New Haven, CT. Friends may call Friday at the church from 8:30 – 10:30 AM. Interment will be at Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to St. Martin de Porres Scholarship Fund. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT. To leave a message of comfort for the Lee family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com