Hazel J Huff Erhard , December 20, 1932 — September 13, 2018

Hazel Erhard, 85, died early Thursday, September 13, 2018 in DuBois, PA. A Bennett’s Valley native, she had recently been a resident of the DuBois Nursing Home and in frail health for some time. She was born December 20, 1932, at Caledonia, to the late Blair and Louise Fox Huff.

During her mother’s illness she was raised by her great-uncle and his wife, John and Pearl Wheeler, whom she regarded as second parents. On October 20, 1956, she was married to Dean Erhard of Clearfield county; he died in 1990. Hazel had worked at the Kroger bakery in Chicago and Stackpole in St. Marys before her marriage, and later at the Riverside in Weedville in the 1970s and ‘80s, but her joy was caring for her home.

She was a creative and talented cook and homemaker whose table was always attractive and generous. She loved cooking with the seasons, especially picking wild grapes and berries, and cookies sent to school were never from the supermarket. In her youth she went deer hunting, enjoyed pitching on the women’s softball team, and she was an enthusiastic bowler.

For many years she was the secretary of the Valley women’s league, and it was a hard loss when she had to give up bowling after injuring her shoulder while caring for her disabled husband. When her house became too much for her, she went to live near her daughter in Altoona, where she sometimes attended the Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church, enjoyed shopping at Amish farm markets, and volunteered with the Red Cross, but she missed Bennett’s Valley. Her strong personality could be challenging for her family, but as she was beset by health problems, her spirit proved to be an asset.

She battled back from numerous serious operations and illnesses, any one of which might have defeated a less determined person. Her first words on coming out of anesthesia were invariably, “Make me an appointment at the hairdresser”. She always looked ahead, never back.

She is survived by a daughter, Rita Kelly (Sam) of Altoona, a son, Blair Erhard (Brian Fisher) of Burbank, Ca. , a granddaughter, Jodi Wilson of Tyrone, and four sisters: Beverly Heiple of Latrobe, and Carolyn Smith, Joan Turnbull, and Marlene Long, all of Caledonia. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her three brothers, William, Duane, and Leslie Huff, as well as by a companion, LeRoy Erich.

The family thanks everyone at the DuBois Village and Nursing Home who cared for Hazel. Per her wishes there will be no visitation. Burial will be at Mt.

Zion cemetery, Caledonia.

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