Hazel Bernice (Arwood) Syverson

OTTAWA – Hazel Bernice (Arwood) Syverson, age 81, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, November 11, 2013 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services honoring her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 16th at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Rev. Peter Brick officiating.  Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Pallbearers will be David Syverson II, Chad Johnson, John Arwood, Dennis McConnaughhay, Bill Entwistle and John Herr.  Honorary pallbearer will be Hank Arwood.

Hazel was born May 6, 1932 at Pontiac, Illinois, a daughter of Henry Robert and Sina (Garland) Arwood.  She married Ralph Adrian Syverson on February 14, 1953 at the First Baptist Church in Ottawa.  She is survived by her husband of sixty years, Ralph of Ottawa; her children, David Syverson of Utica, Ralph H. Syverson of Ottawa and Dianne (Dennis) Johnson of Littleton, Illinois.  Also surviving are grandchildren, David Syverson, Jr., Elisa and Stacy Syverson, Robin, Amber and Chad Johnson; great-grandchildren, Richard, Jade and Bailey Syverson, Hunter Downey, Strawberry Rockford, Sierra and Shania Johnson and Annastasia Macfarland.  Hazel also leaves a brother, John (Lorraine) Arwood of Princeton; and sisters, Bettie (William) Entwistle of Ottawa and Dorothy Husted of Spruce Pine, North Carolina.  She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Carl Arwood.

Hazel was a 1950 graduate of Ottawa Township High School and was a member of the First Baptist Church.  Prior to her marriage to Ralph, she had aspirations of being a model.  She was employed as a telephone operator with Illinois Bell.  She was also the former president of D & S Electric.  Hazel dearly loved her family and will be sorely missed.  She enjoyed antiques, flower gardening and collecting dolls in her leisure time.  Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Baptist Church of Ottawa.