Hazel Reece

February 25, 1956 – April 1, 2019

Hazel Catherine Reece, 63 of Kailua Kona, Hawaii passed away April 1, 2019 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born February 25, 1956 in Washington D.C. to John Ramos Jr., and Hazel DeSilva (Kennedy) Ramos. She grew up in Lexington Park Maryland and was a 1974 graduate of St. Mary's Academy. Hazel graduated with a BSN from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore, in 1979. She married William T. Reece, Jr. in December 1979 and the couple moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Hazel served as a Captain in the United States Air Force until 1983. She is survived by her husband Bill and three children; son Matthew (Ellie) Reece of Detroit, Michigan; daughters Elizabeth (Luis) Mendez of San Antonio, Texas; Margaret (Bryan) Rathgeber of San Francisco, California; brother John (Donna) Ramos III of Washington D.C., sisters Dr. Frances (Jan) Verbruggen of Portland, Oregon; Mary Anne (Dr. Robert Bowden) Ramos of Baltimore, Maryland; and three grandsons and many numerous nieces and nephews.

Hazel was a kind and generous wife, mother, grandmother and sister. In later years she was a nurse educator serving in positions at Wayland Baptist University School of Nursing, West Hawaii Community College School of Nursing, Thomas University School of Nursing's China Program and finally at the University of Hawaii at Hilo School of Nursing. She earned a MSN summa cum laude from the University of the Incarnate Word School of nursing in 2006, and was just several courses short of completing her PH.D in nursing at the Catholic University of America School of Nursing, when her cancer recurrence prevented her completion. However, by special vote of the nursing faculty and Presidential approval, she was awarded her Ph.D in nursing in memoriam; said degree being conferred May 18, 2019. Hazel traveled the world. Her hobbies included gardening and quilting. She was an avid scuba diver and enjoyed many live aboard dive cruises.

Hazel was especially devoted to her nursing students. She was honored in her last weeks to have been cared for by many of them. She was extremely grateful for the support of her faculty colleagues at UH Hilo Nursing School, especially Dr. Kay Daub.

The family wishes to thank the many doctors and nurses who cared for her both at Kona Community Hospital and the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Chicago. Special thanks to longtime family friend Stephen McKay whose counsel and unwavering support in the most trying parts of this long journey provided the strength to continue the fight; Dr. Julian Schink, Chief of Staff at CTCA who compassionately and aggressively cared for her and never gave up; Dr. Hatem Halabi, CTCA surgical oncologist who performed a lengthy and complex liver resection surgery that gave her extra years; Pat Zillow, R.N., CTCA Wound Care Department Head, who exhibited the highest ideals of the nursing profession and enjoyed the utmost respect of her colleagues and helped her deal with many challenges; Dr. Donald Hill former oncologist at Kona Community Hospital whose compassion and extreme competence is sorely missed; and Dr. Lambert Lee Loy, her beloved and devoted primary care doctor, who stood with her throughout every step of her long battle; as well as the many doctors and nurses at the CTCA for the exceptional compassion they displayed; and those at Queens Medical Center KCH.

A memorial mass will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Kailua Kona at 9:30 a.m. on June 7, 2019, with visitation at 8:30 a.m. Inurnment will follow at West Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery at 12:00. A celebration of her life will be held starting at 2:00 pm at Kona by the Sea in the clubhouse.