Hazel W. Mori

MORI, Hazel W. Poet, educator and world teacher of the Baha’i Faith, died Saturday, August 31, 2002 in Santa Rosa after a brief illness. Mori, a Sonoma County resident for over 10 years was born on May 9, 1909 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the daughter of two teachers. She was stimulated to express her feelings in words and began writing poetry at the age of ten. Attending Geneva College in Pennsylvania, she graduated at the age of nineteen with a degree in Romance Languages. She then accepted a high school teaching position, where many of her students were the same age as their teacher! Over the years, Mori continued her education by doing graduate work in American literature at the University of Pittsburgh as well as mathematics at Edinboro State in Pennsylvania. After moving to the Seattle, Washington area, she completed graduate work in statistics, history and economics at the University of Washington. Mori became an instructor of economics at the University of Washington in the early 1940’s. Following her 1945 marriage to Prudencio P. Mori, Hazel became active in labor unions and with her husband helped to organize the cannery workers in Alaska. Perhaps her most rewarding job was as Area Welfare Director for the International Longshoreman Workers Union, which she held from 1945 to her retirement in 1973. During her tenure she established the first union health, dental and welfare benefits programs, programs that are still in force today. She guided workers to take advantage of the negotiated benefits. Because of her experience with health and welfare programs, she became a consultant on comprehensive health planning for the U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity as well as a similar program with the state of Washington. In 1941 Mori became a member of the Baha’i World Faith, and with her usual energy, devoted many years of service to her Faith. For over thirty years, she traveled to thirty-three states teaching her beloved Faith. In addition, Mori attended Baha’i conferences in New Delhi, Jakarta, Singapore, London and Panama. In 1978 and 1988, she was a delegate to the International Baha’i conventions in Haifa, Israel. In 1973, she moved with her husband to the Philippines, where they both actively pursued their service to the Baha’i Faith. Mori served for several years on the National Baha’i Spiritual Assembly of the Philippines. After the death of her husband in 1991, she returned to this country to live with her daughter in Santa Rosa. Mori was an active member of Poets of the Vineyard for many years. A published author, Mori's books include "Prickles and Plums, " a book of poetry, and "A Slice of the Loaf, " a personal history of her life in the Baha’i Faith. In addition to her daughter, Preble Franklin, of Santa Rosa, and her son, Paul Stoddard of Fremont, CA, Mori is survived by 10 loving grandchildren, including Cheryl Franklin-Jelinek, who teaches music in Santa Rosa, and 6 adoring great grandchildren. Friends are invited to attend a graveside service at 10:00 a.m., September 4 at Olive Hill Cemetery on Canyon Road in Geyserville. Donations are suggested to Memorial Hospice, 821 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. For further information please call FRED YOUNG & CO, Funeral Directors 433-3329 or 894-2540.