Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Hazel Louise (Cook) Reihm was born in Lambert, Mississippi, to Minnie and Carroll Cook in 1919. She had three siblings: Catherine, Billy and Maurice. Her father owned a lumber business, while her mother was a homemaker. Hazel had a wonderful childhood, as the family was well to do. She was very close with the domestics in the house, as they referred to her as "Miss Hazel." Pinky, the cook, often sang in the kitchen and Hazel sang along. Hazel always loved music and she liked singing songs. Every Sunday, the family dressed up and they traveled by car to attend church services. Hazel's father often gave her gifts such as pretty new clothes and boxes of chocolate. She loved visiting her father at the mill. She also liked going into town with her mother to go shopping. Sadly, her father passed away when she was only seven-years-old. She was devastated by his death because she adored her father. For years to come, Hazel treasured a glass paperweight that had belonged to her father. A few years later, when her mother remarried, the family moved to Sheffield, Alabama. She traveled by train to spend her summers in Mississippi at her Granddaddy's home. Hazel lived in Alabama until she graduated from high school. At the age of 17, she moved to New Orleans to live with two aunts and an uncle. She quickly found work as a senior secretary for the boss of a candy company.

The move to Louisiana changed her life forever. In fact, it was in New Orleans where she met her future husband, Phillip Joseph Reihm. He was very tall, while she was petite and they made a fun couple. Phil was serving in the Navy when they met at a dance on a riverboat. Hazel always loved to dance and they danced together that night. It was wartime and when Phil had a weekend off from the Navy, the couple married in a small wedding ceremony in October 1943. There was no honeymoon because Phil was deployed again. The family lived in Texas and then relocated to Southern California. Eventually, the couple bought their lovely home in Long Beach where they remained for the rest of their days.

Throughout the years, the couple loved being parents to their four children: Starr, Julia, Sue, and Ryan. As a mother, Hazel was very loving and caring. She was also the disciplinarian. With a single look, she spoke volumes. She expected the kids to give their best, as they had chores and responsibilities at home. She told the kids "Don't do a job half-way" and "Never settle." She believed, "You get from life what you put into it." She set quite an example for her children.

As the kids were growing up, Hazel belonged to every PTA group. She helped her daughters in Campfire Girls and Brownies, while Phil helped Ryan with Indian Guides. She gave her children a love of music, as she sang songs around the house. All of the kids took piano lessons and Hazel and Phil often danced the Jitterbug in the kitchen. Hazel was delightful and embraced a lot of fun adventures. She loved every family holiday, as she decorated for Easter, Thanksgiving and especially for Christmas. She collected special decorations to hang on the Christmas tree every year. Hazel was an excellent cook and a wonderful entertainer. While she made the main dish for meals, the kids helped by making the salad. She wanted everyone to come together and have fun. There were several car trips to visit relatives, but Phil was more of a homebody so the family spent a lot of time in Southern California. Education was very important to Hazel and she was so very proud that all of her children went on to higher education. When Ryan attended Ohio State, Hazel and Phil became avid Buckeye fans supporting their son.

Hazel loved late night television, as she watched "The Tonight Show" throughout the decades featuring the hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar and her favorite, Johnny Carson. Her favorite flowers were roses and daisies, as she had a real green thumb for gardening. She appreciated the joys of gardening in the front and backyard of their home. She would even protect her flowers from the gardeners, advising them to watch out for her pansies.

Hazel was spirited, feisty and a woman who never hesitated to say what was on her mind to family and close friends. She participated in local Republican politics and she served the community as a volunteer at the voting poll. She enjoyed reading and she was an excellent seamstress. She even got Phil to do needlepoint with her later in life.

Adoring their grandchildren, Hazel and Phil doted on them. Hazel encouraged the grandkids to play in the dirt with seeds, because they were learning how to plant and garden, just like her. She also taught some of the grandchildren how to cook Nana's Cookies. Her recipes were so delicious that they would have made a wonderful recipe book. She made tasty fried chicken, family spaghetti, cheese soufflé and her macaroni & cheese was made from scratch. She also used a heavy cast iron lamb mold to make a special coconut cake. For the cake, she'd start with a white cake in the mold, decorate it, and then top it with grated coconut. Instead of using milk or water, she used coconut milk to make the cake. The family got very good at helping to hammer holes in the coconuts to get to the milk. Hazel loved cheesecake, but her favorite was vanilla ice cream.

Hazel and Phil celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a wonderful Alaskan cruise. They also returned to New Orleans to be remarried, but the church they married in was gone. They always enjoyed spending their time together. Since she suffered a stroke, Hazel had two wonderful caregivers at home: Paulette and Marcial. Although Phil became ill after her stroke, he held on until the bitter end, because he wanted to take care of Hazel. She was the love of his life. The next year Phil passed away. Hazel still talked to Phil as though he was watching over her, because she missed him so very much. Over the last ten years, Hazel's family and friends gave her love and great joy. In 2009, the family celebrated Hazel's 90th birthday with Easter at home. Recently, she talked about missing her mom and seeing her dad again. In her closing days, Hazel still managed to say a friendly "Good morning," to her family and caregivers. Surrounded by her family, Hazel passed away peacefully at home a few hours after Easter ended in 2010.

Family was always the best part of Hazel's life. Her purpose in life was to have a family that was loving, kind and supportive of each other. She was protective of her family and her home. In many ways, she was a Mama Hen to her children and grandchildren. She believed in having good standards and good morals, while enjoying life. She truly loved to laugh and was quite humorous. She was a welcoming hostess and always a proper lady, as she knew her manners and Emily Post. Her advice would be to celebrate her life and continue with your own journeys. Her family will miss her presence, her gentle advice and loving ways. As Hazel believed in God, the family feels they will be reunited with Hazel and Phil one day. Hazel will be laid to rest next to her husband at Forest Lawn in Cypress.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; husband Phil; brothers Billy and Maurice; and half-siblings Joy and Kenneth. She is loved and remembered by her daughter Starr; daughter Julia and son-in-law Jim; daughter Sue; son Ryan and daughter-in-law Nancy; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister Catherine; extended relatives; caretakers Paulette and Marcial; neighbors and friends.

Memorial donations are welcome in Hazel Reihm's name to your favorite charity or to the American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org.