Name: Service for HAZEL VARELLA
Start: 2025-04-03T14:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-04-03T16:00:00.000Z
Location: Bristol Trinity Episcopal Church

VARELLA, Hazel (Luke) Beloved Educator Of Easton, March 27, 2025. Hazel Luke Varella, age 92, beloved educator for over 60 years. Born December 17, 1932, in Beverly, MA, she graduated from Oliver Ames High School in 1950. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in education at Bridgewater State College, as well as a master's degree in history at Boston University. She was hired by the Easton School Department in 1956, and taught in various Easton schools until 1997. She was chair of the Oliver Ames Social Studies Department for 33 years, and the Social Studies office was subsequently named in her honor. After retiring from Oliver Ames High School, she taught at Stonehill College, Bridgewater State University, and Curry College for over 20 years. A trustee of the North Easton Savings Bank for many years, she was also secretary of the board of the Ames Free Library, Easton Historical Society, and the Village Cemetery for decades. In 2022, the Bridgewater State University Alumni Association presented her with the Nicholas Tillinghast award for achievement in the field of public education. In 2023, the Easton Historical Society gave her a lifetime achievement award. She is survived by her two sons, John David Varella (Amanda) of Easton and James Robert Varella of Dania Beach, Florida; and her two grandchildren, Emma Katherine Varella and John Alexander Varella of Easton. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Deborah Coe Luke; many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Manuel David ("Dave") Varella; her parents, John and Olivia (MacDonald) Luke; and her brothers and sisters-in-law: John MacDonald ("Jack") Luke and his wife Judy (Jackman), George MacDonald Luke, and James MacDonald ("Jim") Luke and his wife Bonnie (Greely). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hazel L. Varella Leadership Award at Oliver Ames High School, 100 Lothrop St., North Easton, MA 02356, the Easton Historical Society, PO Box 3, North Easton, MA 02356, the Ames Free Library, 53 Main St., North Easton, MA 02356, Bristol Trinity Episcopal Church, 143 Lincoln St., North Easton, MA 02356, or the James Luke Easton Youth Sports Foundation, 16 Reynolds St., North Easton, MA 02356. Visiting Hours will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 2:00PM-4:00PM, in the Bristol Trinity Episcopal Church (held in the sanctuary of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church), 143 Lincoln St., North Easton, MA 02356. A Funeral Service will follow in the church at 4:00PM. Burial will be private. Funeral arrangements provided by the Southeast Funeral Home, 93 Center St., NORTH EASTON, MA 02356. Southeast Funeral Home, 93 Center St., North Easton, MA 02356 www.southeastfuneralhome.com

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Published by Boston Globe from Mar. 30 to Apr. 1, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for HAZEL VARELLA

11 Entries

Judy Slade

July 13, 2025

Sorry for your loss. The best history teacher evah. I think of her so often. And Mr. Varella was my science teacher bot before they were married.

Barbara Melendy Holdridge

Planted Trees

Barbara Mulcahy

April 10, 2025

I was fortunate to teach with Hazel at OHS. Many years later we once again taught together at Curry College. Her students respected and liked her, even taking her 8:30 class ! I´ll miss her wit, kindness, and intelligence. She was not only a colleague but a friend

Bill Nancarrow

April 9, 2025

I was chair of the Politics and History Department during Hazel's last year at Curry, which ended in the Spring of 2020 with the Covid lockdown. As the college shut down, and I was trying to figure out how we would finish the semester with only online education, I was concerned that Hazel would not be able to transition to online learning so quickly. So I got access to her online course management system and prepared to help her create a virtual class. Before I could figure out how to make this all work, within 24 hours I got an email notification from her online course that was intended for her students--she had created the class, signed in, and told them to be ready for class at the regular time the following week right on schedule. It took me a while to process the fact that someone who had started teaching during the Eisenhower administration would be teaching her final class online. She did it brilliantly, and she was so beloved by her students that they rallied around her and all worked together to finish the crazy semester. I will always be in awe of her, grateful to have been her colleague, and thankful on behalf of her students, many of whom would go on to be teachers, that they experienced such a wonderful educator as a teacher and role model.

Bill Holland

March 31, 2025

My condolences to Hazel´s family,I worked with her on the Historical Society´s board of directors during the 1990s when I lived there in Easton, she was a wealth of information on her hometown..a thing that few compared to. She will be sorely missed. God bless.

Bill Paille

March 30, 2025

Sincere condolences to the family.
My first memory of Hazel was the 7th grade, history class, of course. Once a week she would quiz us on States of the US. 15 minutes to fill in a blank map of the US. When someone asked her "what happens when we get all the states?", to which has she paused and with a smile replied "you fill in the state capitals". She inspired me to become involved with the Easton Historical Society where I researched and presented on the Church Street cemetery, helped to renovate the Old Colony RR station as part of my Eagle Scout project that eventually became the EHS building, and I took her local history class my senior year that opened my eyes to the history of Easton, my hometown, and allowed personal tours of unique locations and buildings that has made this town so rich in history and character. She inspired me to become a member of EHS as well as the Medway Historic Society where I have lived since 1998.

Thank you Hazel for your decades of service, inspiration and dedication to education. May we all take that and pass on to the next generation.

Rest in peace Hazel Varella.

Bill Paille (OAHS Class of 1983)

Charles Ferreira

March 30, 2025

Aunt Hazel will always be remembered for her love and caring for my parents and my brother and myself. May she rest in peace . Chuck Ferreira

Susan

March 29, 2025

I was lucky enough to have her as a teacher and I am a better person for it. She was the smartest person I´ve ever known. She was kind and made us want to do the best we could.

Barbara

March 29, 2025

I was one of her many students. My condolences on your loss. Hazel will be missed by many.

Pete Delaney

March 29, 2025

Rest In Peace sweet lady. I remember you as Miss Luke from my junior high school days ( a few weeks ago) and then as Mrs. Varella. Although I was never fortunate enough to have you as a teacher, I had the utmost respect for you and your dedication to your students. The world truly is a better place because you were here to help. Thank you.

Socrates

March 29, 2025

Hazel was the best of educators and mentors, she pushed us , she challenged us, she made us think. Her legacy runs through a thousand students she set on their paths. She will be sorely missed and always remembered.

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