Hazel Faith Bebermeyer

November 10, 1944 - March 24, 2022

Hazel Faith Bebermeyer, a resident of the Ventura subdivision of Orlando, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, March 24th, 2022. Hazel was born in Turtle Creek, PA on Nov. 10, 1944 to Norton and Hazel [Sanders] Brock. She was raised there until she was about 13 years old, and then spent the remainder of her childhood growing up in Binghamton, NY. After graduation she attended Ridley Lowell Secretarial College where she learned the skills that would make her the Queen of Executive Assistants later in life. After graduating from college Hazel went to work for Singer Link where she met Adolph Riebenack. They eloped and were married on December 31st 1966 in New York City. Hazel gave birth to Paul in 1967 and Heather in 1969 while living in Binghamton. In 1972, the family moved to sunny little Orlando, Florida, and Laura was born in 1973. Orlando would be Hazel’s home for the rest of her life, and she would watch the city grow and change into the metropolitan wonder that it is today. Hazel was a skilled home maker for about 16 years, and created a warm environment where friends felt like family. She also was the quintessential PTA President Mom, and her children remember that, back in the day before computers and printers, most of the materials for PTA campaigns were handmade by their mother’s very capable and artistic hands. Her children and their all their friends also remember the unique handcrafted paper sandwich sack birthday party gift bags that Hazel made into whimsical characters for each young party guest. She also crowned the celebrations with creative home made birthday cakes festooned with horses and kitty cat figurines. After Adolph and Hazel separated in 1982, Hazel returned to work. The divorce was finalized in 1984. For a time she was a hard-working single mom who single-handedly provided for her family, but her long standing friendship with neighbor and architect Landis Eugene Bebermeyer soon became a romance. Gene and Hazel were married on February 16, 1985 in a church wedding attended by family and friends, and Hazel became second mother to Mark, Kelly and Kristi. This was a blessed Union by the accounts of all 6 children, who had already been friends, and who have been entirely family since that day. Gene was the absolute love of Hazel’s life, as she was his. Her adoration continued beyond Gene’s death from pancreatic cancer in 1994 until the day of her passing, as she chose never to remarry. Their marriage has been the shining example that all of their children’s marriages have endeavored to live up to. Hazel has worked as an Executive Assistant for many companies all over Orlando, such as Darden, Grayline Tours, and Bellsouth/AT&T. For a time, she was on the Elite Team at Talent Tree, being a special representative to the most valued executive clients of the temporary agency. Hazel may have been one of the last practicers of Pitman shorthand, and was one of the fastest typist in the South, being able to carry on a conversation while simultaneously whipping out perfectly transcribed paragraphs. She was the beautiful poster model for multitasking efficiency. She also loved to participate in United Way fundraisers and activities, especially shopping for Angel Tree children each Christmas. She retired in 2009. In retirement, Hazel stayed happily active as a member of the Red Hat Society, The Elks Club Beach Boppers, the Italian American Club and her Bunko group. She attended meetings at the Ventura 19th hole lunch group. When she was not traveling to see family and grandkids, she could be found many nights carpooling her friends to dances at the Saint Marks Senior Center, Beardall Center, the Elks Club, the Moose Lodge or any other place a dance could be found. Hazel loved to dance!! And she also never met a stranger. She leaves behind many, many friends who were all dear to her heart. Hazel is survived by her proud children Paul [Chula] Riebenack of Lutz, FL, her daughter Heather [Shawn] Riebenack-Hebb of Winter Park, FL, her daughter Laura [Jay] Akers of Marion, IN, her step-son Mark Bebermeyer of Orlando, FL and her step-daughter Kristi [Keith] Bebermeyer Dann of Orlando, FL. She is also survived by her pride-and-joy grandchildren Roderick, Portia, Trinity, Sophia, Serenity, Iris, Luna, Grace, Danielle, Vanessa and Valerie. She will be missed very much by her sisters Evelyn [Bob] Vincent of Norwich, NY and Joan [Jon] Atwater of Binghamton, NY and her brother Roy [Melissa] Brock of Appalachian, NY, as well as her best sister-cousin Audrey Jean Snyder of St. Cloud, FL, and her too-may-to-list but each individually adored nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her father Norton Brock, mother Hazel Fern Brock, step-mother Kay Brock, husband Gene Bebermeyer, sister Norma Patrick, and stepson Kelly Bebermeyer who we all imagine are thrilled to have her join them. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, April 11th, 2022 from 12-3pm at The Winter Park Library and Event Center. For those who are unable to attend in person, the event will be live streamed from noon to 2pm at https://tributestream.com/celebration-of-life-for-hazel-bebermeyer/. Flowers may be delivered ON THE MORNING OF THE EVENT to The Winter Park Events Center, 1050 W Morse Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32789 between 8am and 11am. For those who would like to honor Hazel by making a donation in lieu of flowers, we present something near and dear to her heart: The Red Boot Foundation. The Red Boot Foundation was established in 2012 to honor the life and legacy of Norma Patrick, Hazel’s sister and best friend. The primary focus of the foundation is to support the Norma Patrick Scholarship Fund at The University of The Cumberlands, in Williamsburg, KY where Norma taught in the education department for 25+ years. Each year the scholarship is awarded to a single mother pursuing a degree in education. Donations can be made by scanning the QR code that is shown on the tribute wall tab, or checks can be made to: Red Boot Foundation and mailed to the care of Heather Riebenack-Hebb at : 1046 Turner Rd, Winter Park, FL 32789. A basket will be available for donations the day of the service.