Anita Hazel (Watt) Fletcher (1927 - 1994)

Born 14 Mar 1927 in Auckland, New Zealand

Ancestors

Wife of David Woodward Fletcher — married 1947 in New Zealand

Descendants

Died 16 Feb 1994 at age 66 in Clark’s Beach, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Graham Fletcher [send private message]

Biography

Anita was born in 1927. She passed away in 1994. —Personal recollection of events witnessed by her son [Fletcher-5554|Graham Fletcher] who is in possession of her birth and death certificates, as remembered 9 Nov 2020.

• NZ BDM death registration no. 1994/37560

Anita was not the child of William Cyril Haughey as some presume, or either of her mother’s two marriages. Anita was adopted out on birth to a Scottish immigrant couple, James [Jim] and Margaret [Maggie] Watt and was raised as an only child in a loving and caring home in Mt Albert, Auckland. Furthermore Anita preferred to be understood to be the daughter of her birth mother under her mother’s maiden name, Janet Ruth Paton. Anita was delighted to be reunited with her mother in the last few years in both of their lives. Anita was always known by her second name by her family and friends - “Hazel”.

Hazel attended the Gladstone Road School and upon leaving school, worked at Rimmer’s Coffee in Karangahape Road, [Auckland] during the war years [WWII], and trained as a nurse at Greenlane Hospital, Auckland. As a young person she was active in Bible Classes and church life at the Auckland City Mission, and Auckland Baptist Tabernacle. Through the church youth group Anita enlisted in a program to write to soldiers serving overseas in WWII who were acquaintances of those involved. Her workmates at Rimmers and best friends, the three Fletcher sisters of Huia, had her white to their brother who had been serving in the Middle East for four years at the time. As it happened her letters to David Fletcher led to their relationship, which soon after his repatriation from war, resulted in their long and loving marriage.

Following David’s pre-war occupation Hazel and David first took up the family farm at Huia on the Manukau Heads, then at Rotowaro in the Waikato, before again moving back to family territory on the Manukau Harbour to a small farm between Manurewa and Weymouth. It was no mean feat for a city girl to adapt to farm life, milking cows, etc., and raising four children. Later Hazel’s industrious aptitude led her to employment as an early editor of the Manurewa Gazette, South Auckland Manger of Circular Distribution company, and South Auckland Social Worker in what became Manaukau City. All the while Hazel and David were early active members of the Manurewa Baptist Church for over twenty years and she was known for Bible in Schools programs and as supervisor of the country’s largest and fastest growing sunday school in the 1960’s.

Hazel and David raised four children, one son of whom tragically died of leukemia at 12 years old in the early 1960’s. They gave foster care to needy children, and their home was an open home for stayers and folks in need of hospitality —Hazel became affectionately known by many as “Mum Fletch”. In later life they moved to West Auckland and continued active church life as members of the Auckland Assembly of God for thirty years. In their “retirement” they travelled much to visit their family in Australia, Canada, and Chile. They were known around Auckland markets for their stall raising money for missions and overseas trips on the proceeds of Hazel’s highly popular preserves, jams, relishes, and pickled onions. Hazel was Grandma to six grandchildren. Forever active, and loving nothing more than a swim in the sea, so it was after coming in from the water Hazel died of a heart attack on Clark’s Beach, on the s.w. Shores of the Manukau.

Memoirs written by Anita Hazel’s son, Graham Fletcher.