Carolyn Key Hazen

On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10, 2020 at age 92, Carolyn passed peacefully at her home in Haddonfield, NJ surrounded by her family.

She was the beloved wife for 69 years of the late Herbert Wallace Hazen; loving mother of Amy Vasko (Jack) of Richmond, VA and Andrea Hazen of London, England; much-loved only child of the late Llewellyn Dale Key and Grace Key (nee Barstow); and much-cherished granddaughter of the late Clark Middleswarth Barstow, MD and Ella Louisa Barstow (nee Folwell).

Born and raised in Bryan, OH, in her early years, Carolyn enjoyed spending time with her father at his garage and dealership, where she developed a passion for cars and Paris, where her father had been stationed during World War I. Carolyn and her parents travelled to Florida every winter for several months to support her father’s failing health, and car rides both long and short became a source of joy for Carolyn. In later years, riding around Haddonfield in springtime to see the flowering trees and shrubs and in December to see the Christmas lights were special delights.

At a young age, Carolyn lost her beloved father to ill health. Her mother Grace was a pivotal figure to Carolyn throughout her lifetime, as were her maternal grandparents, aunt, and uncles. In later years, Carolyn greatly enjoyed researching her Key family ancestors and in 1997 authored and published the book: The Key Family, Philip Key of Colonial Maryland and His Descendants.

Carolyn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Bowling Green State University in 1950. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and in later years served as a Trustee of the Alpha Delta Pi Foundation.

As a teenager, Carolyn met her future husband Herb at Hamilton Lake, IN, where they discovered a shared love of boating and spending time on the water. They married in 1950, settled in Haddonfield in 1962, and later built a home at Green Lake, ME. Carolyn adored her late mother-in-law, Laura Lavah Hazen (nee Hedrick) of Marceline, MO with whom she enjoyed countless hours of playing cards over the years.

Carolyn and Herb were married for more than a dozen years before their first daughter was born. During that time, they travelled extensively for Herb’s work, including a 14-month assignment in Spain. They enjoyed many other wonderful experiences over the course of his career, including entertaining clients at Churchill Downs the day Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby.

Carolyn delighted in homemaking, caring for her husband and daughters, planning for and entertaining family and friends. Carolyn and Herb were gracious hosts and friends often commented that ‘the Hazens know how to throw a party’. For more than 60 years, they sent family and friends to their favourite restaurant on the Left Bank of the Seine in Paris.

Carolyn was actively involved in her daughters’ early education and activities, and volunteered her time to serve in various capacities at her daughters’ primary and secondary schools: Haddonfield United Methodist Nursery School, Haddonfield Friends School, Moorestown Friends School, Haddonfield Middle School, Haddonfield Memorial High School. She was a more than 50-year member of the Haddonfield United Methodist Church.

Carolyn was an accomplished pianist and used her gift of playing by ear to entertain her family and friends. After settling in Haddonfield, Carolyn and Herb became long-time supporters of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She was a dedicated fundraiser and long-standing member of the New Jersey Committee for the Philadelphia Orchestra and served as its Chair as well as President of the Volunteer Committees for The Philadelphia Orchestra, in the latter role representing the Volunteer Committees to the Boards of both the Orchestra and the Academy of Music. She also served on the Executive Board of the Association of Major Symphony Orchestra Volunteers.

Carolyn is greatly missed and will long be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother, a gracious hostess, and a dedicated volunteer.

Services will be held privately at Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan, OH. Memorial contributions in honour of Carolyn may be made to Alpha Delta Pi Foundation, Bowling Green State University School of Education, Haddonfield United Methodist Church, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Wesley United Methodist Church in Bryan, OH, or a charity of your choice.