Hazel Frances Taylor, 93 of Moodus CT, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2019 surrounded by her loved ones. Of English and Irish heritage, Hazel was born on May 27, 1926 in Dublin, Ireland to the late Dorothy Bartlett Chancellor Conyngham and Ernest Knox Conyngham. At the age of four, her family moved to Pinner in Middlesex, England just north of London. She attended St. Helen’s School and later achieved a degree in domestic sciences from the National Training College of Domestic Subjects. She lived through the London Blitz in WWII as a teenager and was evacuated to Torquay on the southeast coast of England during her college years. While there she witnessed the armada of small boats that sailed to Dunkirk and visited the wounded servicemen that were evacuated from France.
Shortly after the war, she met her beloved husband, Dennis Taylor. They were married on June 12, 1947 and had two daughters, Deirdre and Linda, while living in Thames Ditton in Surrey. The young family spent a year in Paris, returned briefly to England and in 1956 emigrated to Canada to live in Oakville, Ontario for a decade. During this time Hazel gave birth to two more daughters, Susan and Cindy. The family emigrated again in 1966, this time to the United States, settling in Westport, CT where they lived for 30 years. In 1986 Dennis retired, and the couple moved to Madison, CT. Sadly, Dennis died in 1992 at the age of 68. For the past 10 years of her life, Hazel was blessed to live in Moodus, CT with her youngest daughter, Cindy Hughson and her family.
Hazel was an amazing mother, grandmother and great grandmother – her children were her life. She was also an accomplished artist and a member of the Silvermine Guild of Art and Madison Art League. Her beautiful scenic oil and acrylic paintings were seen as far away as Sydney, Australia. As an avid international traveler, she liked to say that she “painted memories.” Hazel was an active member of the Daughters of the British Empire (D.B.E) for over 30 years. She was a passionate photographer and created a collection of over 60 albums documenting the history of her family and travel adventures.
Hazel is survived by her daughters: Deirdre Taylor, Linda Dewey (Raymond Dewey), Susan Murray (Liam Murray), Cindy Hughson (Guy Hughson); her grandchildren: Jennifer Morrison (Jim Hurley), Allison Crowley, Cian Murray, Aine Murray, Sarah Hughson, Matt Hughson, Trent Hughson; and her great-grandson, Dylan Hurley.
A memorial service is planned for spring 2020, details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to her favorite charities: The Norma Phriem Breast Care Center, 111 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT 06824 (www.pinkpledge.com) or the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).
