Hazel Liptoi's Obituary
Hazel Liptoi, 89 years old, exited this world in the same way she entered it; on her own schedule without anyone telling her what to do.
Hazel was born October 4th, 1930 in Waltham, MA to Raymond and Agnes Riley, the second oldest in a family of six sisters. Her feisty personality and quick wit matched her quick feet as a self-described professional dancer. She had the gift of gab and made friends wherever she went, whether as the Senior Class attendance secretary at Richardson High School or simply with the random lady at Walmart or a waiter at every single restaurant.
Hazel epitomized the phrase “tell it like it is;” as she frequently said when her children were misbehaving, “I’ll kill ya and tell God you died” (yes, you should read that in her thick Boston accent.) She had three children with her husband Mathew; Christine, Stephen, and Bryan. Ever the stenographer, Hazel kept detailed notes on every family vacation to remember everything from the sights they saw, to the price of a Coke at a gas station in Colorado.
Her practice of writing down all things came in handy when she had five grandkids to keep up with; Cory, Shannon, Tyler, Macie, and Morgan. For Hazel, family came first. Retired by her mid 50’s, she attended every event she could, dance recitals, hockey games, school plays, football games, and church choir performances. Mama, as they called her, sent a card to her grandkids for every single holiday and birthday, though they often needed their parents to decipher her cursive handwriting.
Hazel had her share of tribulations which only made her more resolute. She was married at 21 to Lt. Arthur O. Jones, who was killed in action in Korea a short 13 months later. Hazel met and eventually married Mathew Liptoi on March 1st, 1959, a union that lasted almost 61 years where they learned very well in their own way, how to dance through life together and also to literally dance. Many a night in their home in Richardson, the area rug was rolled up where they, along with their lifelong friends from Alabama, Richardson, and St. Paul’s Catholic Church, would Polka and Waltz on their parquet floors, which Hazel made sure Mathew kept consistently waxed to a shine.
Hazel spent 10 years with Richardson ISD, primarily at Richardson High School, which she enjoyed immensely, retiring in the early 80’s from Big Springs Elementary.
Her penchant for detail extended to organizational activities. She was proud of her time serving with the St. Paul’s Catholic Church Women’s Guild early on, and later with the “little old ladies” babysitting group that she formed from their time babysitting at St. Elizabeth Seton in Plano. Many friendships were cultivated and bonds formed with lots of surrogate “grandkids” who knew her as Miss Hazel.
Hazel is survived by her husband Mathew of Dallas, TX, her children, daughter, Christine Streiff of Allen TX, and her former husband Bob Streiff of Lucas, TX; Son, Bryan and wife Kim Liptoi of Plano TX; Grandchildren, Cory Streiff and Brandy Alarcon and soon-to-be great granddaughter Madeleine Harper of Celina TX; Shannon Streiff and fiancé Travis Payne of Conroe TX; Tyler Streiff, wife Melissa and great-grandson Ryder Mathew of Bulverde, TX; Reverend Macie Liptoi of Dallas TX; Morgan and husband Brian Simpson of Vance AFB Enid, OK; and sisters, Evelyn Aman, Charlotte Wedekind, Gail Riley and Ginny Yasko. She is preceded in death by her first husband, her parents, sister Arline Hunter (deceased 2019) and son Stephen Liptoi (deceased 2014).
As she said recently, her ultimate life advice is, “Do things now while you can still enjoy them...cause when you get old, it sucks!” So, toast to Hazel Liptoi, and get out and live life to the fullest!
Services are 2:30 PM Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Custer Road United Methodist Church, 6601 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75023. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service.
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