Berwick, Maine —
Born in Lowell, Mass. she was the daughter of the late Frank and Edith Roper. Hazel was a graduate of Lowell High School, Class of 1957. She earned a BA in Philosophy and English from Acadia University in Canada in 1961 and then went on to earn a BA in Divinity in 1965, a Master of Sacred Theology in 1970, and a Doctorate in Ministry in 1987 from Andover Newton Theological Seminary. She was ordained in 1964 at the First Calvary Baptist Church in Lawrence.
Hazel was the Pastor of Plainfield Community Church in Plainfield, N.H. for 20 years, an Associate Executive/Field Minister for the American Baptist Churches of New York State for 13 years, and a Field Service Representative for the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board for 10 years. Returning to her roots, Hazel was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lowell and served as its Moderator from 2012 until the time of her passing.
In 1983 Hazel was the recipient of the Rosa O. Hall Town and Country Award for effective leadership in small town ministry. She received the Walter A. Telfer Award in 1987 for excellence in supervision. Her support of Interim Ministry led to her receiving the Joseph I. Chapman Award in 2003, and in 2014 the Conference of Baptist Ministers in Massachusetts bestowed on her the Daniel Sharp Award for “serving as an affectionate and honorable Christian.” In October 2015 Hazel was recognized as a Lowell High School “Distinguished Alumni.”
Hazel enjoyed rug hooking, traveling to Prince Edward Island and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell.
She is survived by her brother-in-law, George Simonian of Chelmsford; her nieces, Lucy A. Simonian of Alexandria, Va. and Elisa (Simonian) and her husband, Mark Ouellette of Westford, Mass.; nephew, Kirk and his wife, Jennifer Simonian of Fayetteville, Ga.; grand-nieces, Maggie and Ellie Simonian; grand-nephew, Zachary Ouellette; along with many family and friends throughout New England, New York, and the Canadian Provinces.
Hazel was the sister of the late Lucy E. Simonian of Chelmsford, who died Nov. 26, 2005.
Visiting hours Mon. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 60 Hastings Street, Lowell. Burial at a later date in the Victoria West United Cemetery, Victoria West, Prince Edward Island.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Hazel’s name may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Roof Repair Fund online at http://www.cbclowell.org/give.html or mailed to 60 Hastings Street, Lowell, MA 01851 or to the Hazel A. Roper Memorial Scholarship (Lowell High School Memo: Roper Scholarship), 50 Father Morissette Blvd., Attn: Bursar’s Office, Lowell, MA 01852.
Arrangements by Dolan Funeral Home, 106 Middlesex Street Chelmsford, MA 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com.