Harriett Hammel

Harriett and her two sisters, Libby and Carol met with tragedy at an early age with the death of their mother Vonciel in 1951 and the ensuing events. The girls were sent to their aunt in Alabama who took them in with tender and loving arms. Harriett’s fondest childhood memories were during the time she lived with her beloved Aunt Hazie and her cousins Georgie and Bubba along with her two sisters. It was there where Harriett took over as the “Big Sister” and began the role of guardian and leader for her younger sisters. Eventually, their father moved to Ohio, remarried, and sent for the girls to come live with them. The three young southern girls entered a new life with new surroundings, cultural changes and of course a new step-mother Marcella and later, two half-brothers, Christopher and Jamie.

Harriett was a graduate of Upper Arlington High School, class of 1960 and went on to business school in Columbus Ohio. She entered the accounting industry and worked for multiple corporations, ultimately retiring from Kroger as a corporate accountant in 1999. However, God and family were her top priorities. Harriett eloped and married Ron Hammel on August 25, 1962 in Norfolk Virginia where Ron served in the Navy. Ron and Harriett raised two sons, Kelley and Mike, and their world was centered around church and a multitude of outdoor activities including camping and fishing in the Northwoods. Harriett loved God’s creation and immersed herself in nature. She would sit for hours listening to the loons call, watching bald eagles fly, and spending time with her family on the lake up north.

Harriett is survived by her husband of 61 years John Ronald Hammel, sons; Samuel Kelley Hammel (and his wife Angie) and John Michael Hammel (and his wife Nisha), grandchildren; Megan (and her husband Kevin Blick), Rachael (and her husband Matt Conger-Eldeen), Caleb (and his wife Monica), Nathan, Alyssa and Mikey, and great-grandchildren; Lyla, Fiadh and Theodore. The grandchildren and greatgrandchildren know her as their “Mamaw”.

Harriett’s celebration of life will be on what would have been her 80th birthday, Wednesday August 9th, 2023. Viewing and visitation will begin at 10am followed by a celebration of life at 11AM at the Delaware Church of Christ (71 OH-203 Delaware, OH 43015). Harriett’s internment will be the following day August 10th, 2023 at 12PM at Kingwood Memorial Park, 8230 Columbus Pike, Delaware, OH.