Hazel (Brown) Vail

Hazel Brown Vail passed away peacefully on June 26, 2021, at age 88.  
The daughter of the late William H. Brown Sr. and Hazel Ganung Brown was born on August 18, 1932, at home on Dale Avenue in Ossining. She graduated from Ossining High School in 1950 and lived on Hawkes Avenue, Overton Road, Edward Street and Acker Avenue, where she raised her family.   
After graduating Ossining High School, Hazel commuted to White Plains by bus until she bought her first car—a used 1950 Studebaker—from husband to-be Pete (OHS '48)  in late 1951.  The previous owner of the car was a teacher who was moving out of the country who had been put very little mileage on it. Hazel proudly shared how she then carpooled four other women who lived in the neighborhood and worked at the same company in White Plains. The car pooling arrangement proved rewarding, as her two-door car enabled her to recover her costs by charging a modest amount.   The fact that Hazel had such ingenuity is not a surprise, as her father and mother ran a taxi and limousine service in Ossining for decades prior.   
In addition to her parents, Hazel was predeceased by her husband Peter C. Vail in 2002, reaching nearly 50 years of happy marriage when he passed; and by older brother William H. Brown Jr. and her nephew, William H. Brown III.
Hazel is survived by her three sons: James (Elaine), Thomas (Laurie), and John (Barbara), seven grandchildren: Brian, Kimberly (Christian Anderson), Kevin (Whitney), Emily, Peter (Olga Rocha), Nicole, and Jon; and two great grandsons: Tyler and Cody Anderson. She is also survived by her twin brother, Harold Brown.
With Pete, Hazel retired to Naples, Florida in the early 1990's and she returned to Ossining in 2018 to be closer to her family. She loved making needlepoint crafts, going to ballgames and events for her grandchildren and watching her beloved Yankees (and the Met's as a default!).  She received numerous volunteer awards for her persistent knitting of newborn baby hats and booties for Naples Children’s Hospital. She was also a skillful player of Mahjong and bridge with her great friends of the Shells Group of Naples.  
Visiting hours for family and friends will be June 29th from 4pm-8pm Waterbury & Kelly in Ossining with burial ceremony to follow on June 30th at Dale Cemetery. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Hazel to Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC).
WATERBURY & KELLY FUNERAL HOME 
45 S. Highland Ave
Ossining, New York 10562
914-941-0838

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