On Sunday, June 11, Hazel Catherine Chisholm Mass, formerly of Oxford, celebrated her 100th birthday at the Cambridge North Heathcare Center in Clawson.
During her century-long life, Mass didn’t accomplish any incredible feats or change the world. You won’t find any newspaper clippings chronicling her deeds or awards named in her honor.
In fact, Mass, who lived in Oxford from about 1996 to 2002, spent most of her life working hard, struggling and sacrificing for that which mattered most ? her family.
‘She didn’t light any fires or anything,? said youngest daughter Carmen Tillard, of Oxford. ‘She raised a family that values their family.?
Long before the terms ‘single mother? or ‘working mother? entered the public consciousness, Mass, who was born in Nova Scotia, Canada and came to the United States in 1925, raised three children on her own after her husband walked out on her in the mid-1930s.
From processing World War II servicemen’s photographs at the New Art Studio in Detroit to working in the dairy department at Packers Supermarket (later Wrigley’s Supermarket) in Birmingham, Mass worked wherever she could, doing whatever she had to do to support her children.
‘She was always working,? Tillard said.
The family of four was poor, but they were happy.
‘We didn’t know we didn’t have much,? Tillard said. ‘She taught us it’s not what you have, it’s who you have that’s really important.?
Times were tough, money was tight, but Mass always made the best of things.
‘It was okay to have oatmeal for Christmas dinner,? Tillard said. ‘She made it a party.?
And when there wasn’t enough food on the table, it was Mass who went without.
‘If there were three slices of bread, they went to the kids,? Tillard said.
‘Don’t give up . . . Take care of your obligations . . . Do the best you can,? these were lessons Mass imparted to her children, according to Tillard. ‘She taught us so much.?
‘This is the lady I got my strength from,? Tillard said. ‘She’s a treasure.?
Outside of family and work, Mass loved to play the Hammond organ at various churches and funeral homes.
‘Anybody that needed an organist, she was there for them,? said Tillard, noting her mother graduated from the Nova Scotia Conservatory of Music.
When Hazel Catherine Chisholm Mass eventually passes from this earth, there will be no great stone monuments commemorating her life or flowery speeches given by heads of state.
Her legacy will live on in her three children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Knowing her love of family, that will be just fine with her.