Loving wife, mother, and ouma, Hazel Natalie Creeser passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the Capital Caring Hospice in Arlington, Va.

Born May 16, 1931 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa to Margaret and Gladwyn “Cully” Cullingworth, Hazel married Donald Creeser in Durban, South Africa in 1956. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Natal and spent several years teaching English. Hazel and Donald traveled the world with Donald’s work with Mobil Oil and became United States citizens in 1975. They retired in 1990 to Tryon, N.C.

Hazel is survived by her three children, Brett (Tami) of Dallas, Texas, Kären (Andrew) of Madison, Wisc. and Gregory (Giselle) of McLean, Va.; two brothers, Colin “Buddy” and Richard Cullingworth of South Africa, and eight grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Donald Creeser and brother, Barry Cullingworth.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Tryon, N.C., officiated by the Reverend Roger Arnsparger.

Memorials may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 180 Laurel Ave. Tryon, NC 28782 or to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen, Columbus, NC 28722.

“In one sense there is no death. The life of a soul on earth lasts beyond his departure. You will always feel that life touching yours, that voice speaking to you, that spirit looking out of other eyes, talking to you in the familiar things he touched, worked with, loved as familiar friends. He lives on in your life and in the lives of all others that knew him.” -Angelo Patré