Hazel was born in Neudorf, Saskatchewan to Milton and Eva Holtzman (Wanless). She was the second of four children. She lived her whole life in the town except for the two years she lived on the farm after she married Bernard Armbruster.

Hazel attended Normal School after high school and then taught all grades in various rural schools in the Neudorf area. Some that we remember include Piller, Carr Hill and South Lorlie.

Hazel married Bernie Armbruster on April 21, 1945 and one son, Kenneth, was born in August of 1949. She went back to teaching at Roadside School when Ken was in grade four. When the rural schools amalgamated in 1964, she then taught in Neudorf and Lemberg until retiring in 1978. By then Ken was married to Betty Ann (Scott), and they had three sons. After the passing of her husband Bernie, Hazel continued to live in Neudorf. She went on numerous trips with her brothers Lorne and Wilf.

Hazel was community-minded. She served on the Housing Authority for ten years and was on the committee for Neudorf’s 100th anniversary. She had a wonderful memory of the town and many pictures to share. The years went by, and she got to see her three grandsons get married and also became a great-grandmother.

Hazel was devoted to her church her whole life. She gave freely of her time, playing in church for over 60 years and being involved in the women’s group. When the Evangelical church closed in Neudorf, she drove faithfully to Melville for services.

Hazel, at the end, had to leave her home and spend time in St. Peter’s hospital and nine days in St. Paul Lutheran Home. She entered into eternal life on October 6, 2016.

Hazel was predeceased by her husband Bernie, sister-in-law Ruth Holtzman, brother-in-law Ron Jeffers, and Bernie’s siblings Carl, Kate, Lena, John and Mary, as well as their spouses. She is survived by her son Kenneth (Betty Ann), grandson Douglas (Jocelyn) and their son Celyn, grandson Kent (April) and their children Brielle, Micah and Kayden, and grandson Leighton (Danyelle) and their daughter Hazel (her namesake), her sister Leona Jeffers, sister-in-law Eileen Holtzman, brother and sister-in-law Edward and Betty Armbruster and numerous nieces and nephews.