In Loving Memory
Of Our Mother
Hazel Evangeline (McLeish) Gentles, 86, of Windsor, CT passed away on April 21, 2012 at Hartford Hospital. Her final days were spent surrounded by her family. Mrs. Gentles was born on January 14, 1926, in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, to the late Harold McLeish and Evelyn Stewart.
Mummy migrated to England and on December 21, 1957 married Thurston Rodwell Gentles, her husband of fifty-three years and had seven children. She was a home maker who loved to cook and bake for her family, extended family and the neighborhood. Her kitchen and home were a revolving door. Mum always had a soft heart for any misplaced persons. She opened our home to many. Mummy had many talents; she knitted, crocheted and sewed for the kids, making the most fashionable clothing for her daughters. She really enjoyed watching wrestling with her three generations of offsprings; having many debates with Mr. G. and the grandchildren about her favorite wrestlers.
She also passionately enjoyed her soap operas, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and playing Dominoes with her family.
She will be most remembered for her loving and kind spirited hospitality, plus her saucy idioms… mum told you like it was!
She worked for many years at John Waddington in Leeds, England and Mediplex of Wethersfield in the USA. In 1992 Mummy and Daddy retired to Jamaica where she was baptized and attended church services at Saint Matthews Anglican Church.
Mum will be lovingly remembered by her two sons Kipling Gentles and his wife Micheala of Leeds, England and Rodwell Gentles and his wife Brenda of Bradford, England; five daughters, Joy Gentles of Bloomfield, CT, Sonia Watson of East Hartford, CT, Maxine Gentles of Waxhaw, NC, Dawne Holliday and her husband Henry of Windsor, CT, and Jane Alison Gentles of Hartford, CT. She will also be forever remembered by her twenty living grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
She is survived by a brother, Alfred McLeish and his wife Rose of Leeds England; three sisters, Mavis Cole and her husband Lincoln of Leeds, England, Iona Gayle and her husband Owen of Rochester, NY, and Patricia Ebanks of Canada; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Gentles of Jamaica, Faye Gentles of Leeds, England, and Rose McLeish of Jamaica; several nieces, nephews and Life-long special friends Colvin and Hanora Forde.
She was preceded in death by her husband Thurston Gentles; three brothers; six brothers-in-law; and a granddaughter Serina.
Her family will receive friends on Friday, May 25, 10-11 a.m. at St. Matthews Anglican Church, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. A Homegoing service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in St. Matthews Anglican Church Cemetery in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica.
Read Hazel Gentles's Obituary and Guestbook on www.carmonfuneralhome.com.
