Hazel Elizabeth Fritz, 79, of Fort Worth, Texas, died peacefully at home with family by her side, on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, after battling Alzheimer's for years.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 am, Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5953 Bowen Roberts Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76179

Interment: 1:15 pm, Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Visitation: 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at Biggers Funeral Home with recitation of The Holy Rosary to commence at 6:30 pm.

She was born in Ponce Puerto Rico on November 6, 1944 to Andrew and Alice Havre. She was an "Army Brat" with her dad being an Army Officer. Hazel and her sister Shirley accompanied her dad and mom to various duty stations in the States and Germany. One of her dad's duty stations was Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, where she met life-long friends while in high school there (Class of 1962). She and her friends remained close throughout the years. Up until her passing, she and her friends, and their spouses had many wonderful trips and adventures together.

Her dad settled in Baltimore, Maryland, after retiring from the Army after 28 years of service. After living with her dad, mom, and sister in Baltimore for several years, she set off on her own to California. She met her husband, Art, in California in 1974, and they were married on January 18, 1975. Hazel and Art were married for 49 years.

Hazel and Art have a daughter, Michelle Soblotne (Chris), who lives in Aurora, Texas. She and Chris have two sons, Christian and Andrew Brousseau, and two daughters, Abigail and Dakota Soblotne. Grandson Christian and his wife, Sandy just had baby Lucas. Unfortunately, "Nonnie" never got to see her first Great Grandchild Lucas, because God called her home, before he was born. Grandson Andrew and his wife Taylor are expecting baby Anakin in April. Christian, Sandy, and Lucas are currently living with Art. Andrew and Taylor live in Denton, Texas.

Hazel and Art have a son Michael Fritz (Rebekah), who lives in Ruther Glen, Virginia. He and Rebekah have a daughter Laylah Fritz, and two sons Kyle and Josh Crawley

Art has a son Marc Fritz (Ellen), and two grandchildren, Zachary and Ashley Fritz, who were part of Hazel's life. Marc lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, while the grandchildren live in California.

Hazel has a sister, Shirley Cartier (Carl), who lives in Bel Air, Maryland. They have a son Andre and a daughter Monique, who live in the Baltimore, Maryland area.

Hazel has three cousins, Frank Fernandez, Lourdes Fernandez, and Lissette Gonzalez (Ray), who live in the New York City area. She also has four cousins that live in Texas: Henry Havre lives in Houston, and Joan Griffin, Elizabeth Recsmann, and Michelle Duke live in the San Antonio area.

Hazel and Art moved from Garden Grove, California to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1979. In 1983 they moved to Yokohama, Japan, where Art worked for the U.S. Navy's Military Sea Lift Command for 5 years. In 1988 they returned to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where they lived until they moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 2020, to watch their two youngest grandchildren Abigail and Dakota grow-up.

Hazel worked as an Administrative Assistant in Virginia Beach for a Property Developer and Management Company in Norfolk, Virginia, before retiring.

She was the Event Coordinator for the Virginia Beach Polo Club's Annual Charity Match. Art and Hazel were members of the Beachcombers Corvette Club in Virginia Beach.

Hazel was active at Saint Luke Parish in Virginia Beach, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, member of the Bereavement Committee, and as a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. Unfortunately, her Alzheimer's prevented her from being active at Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she was a member.

Hazel loved dancing, traveling, boating, gardening, cooking, sewing, doing cross-stich, and cruising in the Corvette, but most importantly spending time with her grandchildren.  All loved and will miss Hazel, including Otis, who Hazel adopted seven years ago, after her beloved Golden Retriever Buddy died when he was 12 years old. Otis and Grandson Christian's dog Bella have watched over her, and now wonder where she is.