WESTERLO – Hazel G. Flagler — a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother — died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 at her residence. She was 81.

She was born in New Haven, Connecticut on Aug. 7, 1942, a daughter of the late Howell W. and Agnes M.T. MacDonald Wood. She was raised in Old Lyme, Connecticut until 1958 when she moved to Westerlo.

She was a graduate of Berne-Knox Central School, Class of 1960. She was married to the late Duwane Clifton Flagler for more than 54 years.

Early in their marriage, Mrs. Flagler worked at the former Montgomery Ward in Menands. After their children were older, she worked as a manager at K-Mart, and finally as a clerk at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, retiring in 2014.

She was a member of the Westerlo Reformed Church. She enjoyed growing huge floral gardens, traveling, especially long weekends, and had very fond memories of a lifetime vacation to England and Scotland for the month of October 2022.

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Hazel G. Flagler is survived by her children, Donna Renee (Tim) Fisher, Deana Robin (James) Smith, Duane Cameron Flagler, Devin Stewart (Mary) Flagler, and Darin Scott (Shelby) Flagler.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jessica (Anthony) Zoccolo, Justin Fisher, Aaron and MacKenzie Smith, Austin, Kaitlyn, Kya, and Alyssa Flagler; her great-grandchildren, Autumn, Carter, and Mia Zoccolo, and Kaleb Fisher; her sisters, Donna Wood (Ron) Fisher and Sheila Wood Cooke; sister-in-law, Maryann Wood; many nieces and nephews.

Her parents, Howell W. and Agnes M.T. MacDonald Wood, died before her, as did her husband, Duwane Clifton Flagler; her daughter, Dana Rachel Flagler; her brother, Howell W. Wood; and her brother-in-law, Dwight Cooke.

A private memorial service for family and close family friends will be conducted on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. at the family farm at 763 County Route 401 in Westerlo.

Memorial contributions may be made to Women’s Cancer Care Associates, 319 South Manning Blvd., Suite 301, Albany, NY 12208; to Westerlo Reformed Church, Post Office Box 70, Westerlo, NY 12193; or to Community Hospice, 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.

“The family wishes to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time, for your visitation,” her family wrote in a tribute, “Community Hospice; St. Peter’s Hospital; Dr. Joyce Barlin, oncologist to Hazel for more than 20 years; Hospice nurses Caitlyn, Kate, Teresa, and nurse practitioner Gerry.”