FUNDOUK "Hazel" SIMKINS

Fundouk "Hazel" Doumanian was born on December 12, 1926, in New York, New York. She was the youngest child of Siranoush and Aram Doumanian, both immigrants from Armenia.  Fundouk’s siblings, Nishon, Anna, and Amy predeceased her.  

When Fundouk was a toddler, Siranoush had gallbladder surgery, and Fundouk went to Detroit to stay with her Aunt Mushcanaz and Uncle Nishon Baboian.  For various reasons, Fundouk was unofficially adopted and renamed by her aunt and uncle, who she knew as her mother and father for the rest of her life. Her parents, Mushcanaz and Nishon (called Nick and Mary in the US) lost all their children during the Armenian genocide and survived unthinkable atrocities.  Fundouk was a blessing to Nick and Mary so they showered her with love.   

As a kid, Fundouk was teased as being a “foreigner” with the name Fundouk so it was Hazel for the rest of her life.  That teasing influenced the person that she was. She was nice to everyone and never judged people based on their race, creed, or color.  She never forgot how mean kids can be and she always tried to show people kindness and respect. 

Hazel was a supportive, positive, loving person who did not shy away from giving honest advice.  She was a leader in the many organizations she served.  She spoke her mind and those who listened benefitted from her sage wisdom and advice. In her TOPS group, many of the members credited her for being an inspiration on many levels. She was a life coach to many and prayed for everyone she knew. 

She credited her spirit to her loving parents.  She had had many fond memories and even though they lived during the Great Depression, Hazel fondly remembered how her father spoiled her with 5-cent apples from Eastern Market. They lived a good life appreciating what they had.   

After the depression, Hazel’s father got a job in the Ford Motor Company foundry to support his family.  It was a tough job. One day Mary thought Nick had died when a limousine pulled up in front of their house.  Unions were in their infancy and the limo was Ford Motor management driving Nick Baboian to work every day, giving him hot coffee, hoping he would vote against the union.  No one at Ford knew that Nick spoke very little English. We never knew how he voted, but Hazel said he worked hard every day, never complained and the once-farmer from Armenia enjoyed his limo-driven week.  

When Hazel was 16, she found out that the 3 relatives she thought were her cousins were in fact her brother and two sisters.  She was shocked, but she grew up with many people telling her that she and her “cousin” Amy were twins.  She was always grateful that she got to see her biological father Aram on a trip to New York, when she was 8 years old, as Aram passed away when she was 10.  

Hazel graduated from Western High School where she met her only love, Chuck Simkins, a boy she thought was stuck up. One night, Hazel went to the Dearborn pools with her girlfriend in 1943 via several buses.  Her friend met up with her own boyfriend and ditched Hazel, who was far from home at night. Luckily the boyfriend’s buddy was Chuck who saw this gorgeous was girl left alone and asked her if he could accompany her on the several bus rides back to her house; and if he could buy her an ice cream at the last stop.  He then had to take several more bus rides to get home.  After that night, Chuck and Hazel only saw each other a few times before he left for US Air Force training for one year.  They fell in love through love letters.  

When Chuck came home on leave, at the age of 18, Hazel and Chuck got married and had a strong and beautiful 56-year marriage until he passed away from Mesothelioma in 2001. Hazel was his lovely and tireless caregiver for three years before Chuck died. She was heartbroken, but she carried on and said she didn’t cry publicly because she wanted to be strong for her children.   

Hazel was voted the Quietest and Shyest student in high school.  So how did she evolve from a shy person to a confident lady?  She married at 18 but, on her honeymoon, in one room were Hazel and Chuck along with Chuck’s mother and 3 siblings.  Hazel reported that this was the time she began to speak up. 

Hazel was an active person.  After Chuck died, she volunteered at the Livonia Senior Center for 16 years.  When her hearing gave out, she was unable to continue.   

She was also an active member of various organizations including TOPS, a club she was a member of for 55 years.  Hazel enjoyed many years as KOPS, someone who keeps off pounds sensibly.  She did this by walking a mile in her house most days listening to her favorite Willie Nelson.  She told her daughter she felt comforted by the song, “Always On My Mind”, because Chuck was always on her mind.  

She was also active in PTA, campfire girls, cub scouts, mic mac, brownies, girl scouts, church council, ARS Sybille Chapter, Daughters of the Nile, and Eastern Star.  She was also an active spouse in the women’s auxiliary of the Masonic Lodge.  People would ask her the secret to longevity, and she would say, "Keep moving and stay active."   

9 months after losing Chuck Hazel said that God was testing her when her son, Nick, passed away very suddenly at age 52.  This was a huge loss to the family as Nick was a special guy who was loved by many.  By 2005 Hazel’s daughter Kathie was very ill and then Kathie lost her battle with breast cancer in 2006. During Kathie’s illness, Hazel drove long miles from Livonia to Battlecreek several times a week and was there for Kathie as much as possible. Kathie was her best friend and this was devastating.  

After the loss of her beloved and her two children, Hazel carried on with strength because of her faith and her active life. She was a Christian and had a close relationship with God.  She prayed a lot and always told others to do the same.  She would say how much God loves you and that you can tell God anything and ask for help. She said that God helped her through her darkest days.  

She also lost two sons-in-law Mark Agababian in 2015 and Ray Neill in January 2024.  She loved these men like sons and they loved her like a mother.  

She was happy with her life. She was faithful and had a wonderful and devoted husband, 4 wonderful and loving children, grandchildren, and many, many friends.  

Hazel moved to Manoogian Manor in July 2023, where she thrived in this loving environment and really enjoyed her time there.  Sadly, she got the flu in January and had other complications.   

FAMILY MEMBERS

Hazel is survived by her daughters Marsha and Becky, son-in-law Clem, daughter-in-law Sharon, and grandchildren Carolyn Marranca (Chris), Raymond Neill, (Jenn), Melissa Brown (Kris), Marianne, Mallory, Sarah, Natalie, Jacob, Mary and Amy, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Hazel now joins Chuck, and her parents, brother, sisters, daughter, son, sons-in-law, and several nieces and nephews who are welcoming her to the kingdom of heaven.  

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

In the care of Simon Javizian Funeral Directors, visitation will take place on Tuesday in John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home, 1139 Inkster Rd., Garden City, MI, from 4 PM to 8 PM with Dan Gark Prayers at 7:30 PM.

The funeral will take place in St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, 19300 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI, on Wednesday at 11:00 AM with visiting starting at 10:00 am.

Interment in Parkview Cemetery, Livonia at 2 PM

MEMORIAL DONATIONS

The family suggests memorials be sent in her name to Manoogian Manor, 15775 Middlebelt, Livonia, MI 48154.

CONDOLENCES

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FLORISTS

Please deliver all flowers directly to Santeiu Funeral Home on Tuesday.

THANK YOU

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