Hazel Tarbell Crofoot, 1931-2019

Hazel Tarbell Crofoot of Bradenton passed away on August 3, 2019. Born in Kenmore, NY on April 3, 1931, she was the youngest child of Gordon Homer and Hazel Meyer Tarbell. She was pre-deceased by her husband Frederick Ralph Crofoot ("Fritz") in 2000.

After attending Kenmore High School, Hazel graduated from the University of Michigan where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority. On June 13, 1953, she married Fritz in Tonawanda, NY and over the years lived in Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, and Florida.

Hazel was active in many organizations including the Republican Club of Sarasota, Audubon Society, Garden Club in Fort Lauderdale, and Red Hat Society in Bradenton. Hazel loved to travel with the family and once retired, more extensively with her husband.

She had a great interest in family history and corresponded with both Crofoot and Tarbell family members all over the United States. Her earliest Tarbell ancestor was Thomas Tarbell, born about 1645 in Massachusetts. Her husband's family is traced back to Joseph Crofoot who arrived in Springfield, Massachusetts before 1658. Because of such early ancestry, she had many Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers in her family.

Surviving are her two children, Cynthia Crofoot Rignanese, Esq. of Lake Wales and David Crofoot (Jennifer and Easton Gonzalez) of Bradenton and her grandson, Matthew Crofoot. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins with whom she has corresponded over the years. In addition to her parents and husband, she was pre-deceased by her son-in-law, Stephen Mark Rignanese and daughter-in-law, Charlette Mallard Crofoot. Also pre-deceasing her were her four siblings, Mary Elizabeth Tarbell Beckerman (Jacob); Richard Gordon Tarbell (Peggy); Theodore Homer Tarbell (Kathryn); and Ruth Tarbell Norman (Kenneth).

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Strunk Funeral Home in Sebastian, FL. She will be interred with her husband at Sebastian Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to Bradenton Christian School or Moffitt Cancer Center.