Betty Jane Hazen, long time resident of Mansfield Township, passed away on December 8, 2025 in Morristown, New Jersey, just four days shy of her 90th birthday.

Betty was born on December 12, 1935 to Charles and Alice Bodine in Asbury, New Jersey.  In 1954 she met the love of her life, Philip Hazen, and around the same time her sister Bertha met her soulmate, Carl Wyckoff.  Betty & Phil’s, and Bertha & Carl’s romances blossomed side by side and culminated in a beautiful and joyful double wedding.

Betty and Phil brought five children into the world and loving and caring for their family became central to Betty’s life.  She was blessed with many skills and abilities to provide what her family needed.  Her strong faith and devotion to Christian principles of love and service to others were an example to her children who themselves have made their faith an important element of their lives.  Betty’s strong work ethic helped all her children learn the value of stepping up to do whatever job needed to be done.  But perhaps Betty’s singular triumph was her culinary expertise, especially her baking.  Her desserts were nothing short of legendary.  At Thanksgiving, she turned out more pies than one can imagine and they were always spectacular.  But the pinnacle of her talent was making her famous Betty Hazen Brownies, more affectionately known as BHB’s!  Family, friends and neighbors far and wide were blessed to sample these heavenly morsels.

When Betty was not in the kitchen baking her amazing desserts or otherwise caring for her family, she also found areas outside her home in need of her care and support.  She was a long-time election day worker, administrator for the Diamond Hill Water Authority, and agent at the Hackettstown livestock auction.  She also served as a Board Member of the Warren County ARC and was an active member of both Beattystown Presbyterian Church and the Highlands Presbyterian Church.

Betty’s outgoing warmth could be seen often, through a quick chat with a store clerk or remembering to ask about the children of one of her doctors.  Over her nearly 90 years among us, many lives were touched by Betty, whether through friendships lasting many decades, or with a casual acquaintance, or the good fortune of being part of her family.  All of these lives will miss her dearly.

Especially grieving her loss are her children: Phyllis Hazen and her partner Sal Lalama, Kathy Thomas and her husband Tim, Charles Hazen and his wife Kim, Terri Hazen, and June Cooper and her husband Brett.

Also mourning her loss are her grandchildren and great grandchild: Rory DiValerio and his husband Daniel Quinn, Eric DiValerio and his wife Zanobia, Austin DiValerio, Jordan DiValerio, Micah Thomas, Philip Hazen and his wife Hannah and their daughter Magnolia, Jessica Feinstein, Courtney Cooper, Kylie Cooper, and Chloe Cooper.

Betty was predeceased in death by Phil (her husband of almost 60 years), her brother Charles Bodine and her two sisters, Bertha Wyckoff and Anna May and their husbands Carl and Robert.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, December 13 at 1 p.m. at the Highlands Presbyterian Church, Long Valley,

The family requests donations to The ARC of Warren County, PO Box 389, Washington, NJ 07882, https://www.arcwarren.org/arc-foundation/support-the-arc/, in lieu of flowers.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. For those wishing to leave online condolences for the family please visit, www.cochranfuneral.com