1939 - 2022
Hazel M. Vespa, 83, died peacefully at her Lincoln Park home on Thursday, October 13. She was the daughter of William and Marie Kantola of Waukegan. Most of her adult life, however, was spent in a several block area of Chicago, bounded by her residence, her workplace at Children’s Memorial Hospital, and St. Pauls United Church of Christ, where she was a vitally-engaged member.
Hazel graduated from Drake University with a major in Sociology in 1961. She and her first husband, Francis “Skip” Andrew, participated in one of the first training courses for Peace Corps Volunteers and were stationed in the Dominican Republic. They were living and doing community development work in a barrio in Santo Domingo, when U.S. troops were deployed to the island to put down protests in support of a popularly-elected president who had been ousted by a military coup. Loved by the people with whom they worked, Hazel and Skip were among the hundreds of other PCVs who stayed on, despite the violence.
When their term with the Corps was complete, they relocated to Chicago, where they each began graduate study. The marriage ended in 1967.
After completing her Masters in Social Work degree at the School of Social Service Administration (now the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice) at the University of Chicago, Hazel took a position with Children’s Hospital (now Lurie Children’s) as part of the newly-established Illinois Maternal PKU Education Project. During her 45-year tenure at Children’s, she continued to work primarily with PKU families, orienting them to the dietary regimen that would allow affected children to develop normally, both physically and intellectually. It was often the case that she would work with a former patient as an adult, as she prepared for pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child.
Until her retirement in 2013, Hazel was a much-celebrated mentor to numerous graduate students as well as a gifted supervisor to dozens of other staff in the hospital’s social work program. Many such relationships became deep friendships that continued well past her working years.
She was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Social Workers and was cited as a Distinguished Alumni Volunteer by the Crown School/University of Chicago Alumni Association.
In July 1973, Hazel married Carl Vespa, a physicist and founder of Nanofast, Inc., a company that developed precision measuring devices for the scientific community. Carl brought five adult children, born to his deceased first wife, Marcia Marie Lane Vespa, into their life together. Robert Lane, Donna Lane, Julie Lane Ireland, Dan Lane, and Sue Lane Ormuz (along with their spouses, children and grandchildren) added immeasurably to their lives.
Both in her professional career and her personal life, Hazel’s generosity, enthusiasm, and positive attitude were legendary. Her caring nature and openness touched many lives. She faced obstacles in a spirited and courageous way, always focusing on what was positive about a situation and inspiring others.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Vespa, parents William and Marie Kantola, a brother Roger, nephew James, Carl’s parents Nicholas and Rose Vespa, Carl’s step-children Robert Lane and Donna Lane, and Carl’s siblings Raymond, Diana, and Arlene.
A Service of Thanksgiving for Hazel’s life will be held Monday, October 31, 1pm at St. Pauls Church, 2335 N. Orchard. Visitation will be at noon. Interment will follow, 3pm at Graceland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name will be welcomed by WTTW, St. Pauls United Church of Christ, and the PKU Organization of Illinois.
For further information: Drake Funeral Home (773-561-6874) or St. Pauls Church (773-348-3829).
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