Name:
Gwendolyn Marie Hilliard
Birth Date & Death Date
July 19th, 1920 - February 15th, 2010
Obituary:
Morton - Gwendolyn Marie (Baumgartner) Hilliard, 89, of Morton, died at 3:27 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, surrounded by the love of her family. A woman of generosity, grace and virtue, a true “lady” in every sense of the word, Gwen leaves behind many who will forever cherish her memory. Born July 19, 1920, in Cissna Park, Ill., to Harry H. Baumgartner and Alice Cramotte, Gwen was the second oldest of four siblings raised by her maternal aunt and true mother of the heart, Bridget Ellen (Cramotte) Baumgartner, after the untimely passing of Gwen’s biological mother in 1922. Gwen was preceded in death by the love of her life, Majel “Jim,” whom she married on April 13, 1945, in Little Creek, Va. A couple with a deep and abiding faith, their 63-year marriage was the foundation of the family, and even after Jim’s death in August of 2008, the lessons learned from their union endured. Jim and Gwen were blessed with three children, all of whom are committed to love and comfort each other in her absence. A beautiful woman, both inside and out, Gwen loved well and was well loved. Gwen leaves to carry on the very best of her qualities, an adoring family including two daughters, Kathleen Ann (and Gayle) Sipes of Marquette Heights and Christine Marie (and dear friend Paul Miller) Esken of Peoria; one son, Mark Howard (and Rebecca) Hilliard of Laura; eight grandchildren, Kimberly Sipes (and Todd) Owens, Joel (and Holly) Esken, Jonathan (and Christina Lawson) Esken, Karrah Sipes (and Matthew) Martin, Mark (and Tonya) Hilliard, Bridget (and fiancé, Tim Bearden) Hilliard, Michael Hilliard and Mason Hilliard; eight great-grandchildren, Greyson, Hayden and Cooper Owens, Nicholas Esken, Kathryn and Andrew Martin, Emma Esken and Evan Hilliard; four step-grandchildren, Andrew, Joshua and Chance DeGroot and Kylie Lawson; three beloved sisters-in-law, Melba Wilson and E. Joyce Farquharson, both of Iowa, and Dorothy Baumgartner of Florida; a special daughter-in-law, Nancy Hilliard, many nieces and nephews, including Evy Billings of Iowa and a world of devoted friends, including her pinochle club of 60 years. In addition to her parents and her husband, Jim, Gwen was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald Baumgartner of Florida and Wendall (and Ruth) Baumgartner of Ohio; one sister, Marjorie (and Harold) Kaiser of Indiana, and one step-grandson, Jordon DeGroot. A member of the Cissna Park High School graduating class of 1938, Gwen graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, Urbana, Ill., in 1941 and was a registered nurse at OSF St. Francis for 26 years, retiring in 1986. The head nurse of floor 4B, Gwen proudly donned white stockings, a crisp white uniform, shoes and cap each day until her retirement. Beloved by doctors and nurses, many of whom left the comfort of their own retirements to pay their respects to her during her final days, Gwen was a dedicated professional whose actions were a constant source of inspiration to others. An avid volunteer in her community, OSF St. Francis Nurse of the Year, a member of the American Nurses Association, 7th District Nurses and the Catholic Nurses Association, Gwen was also a charter member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton and a member of the Altar & Rosary Society at Blessed Sacrament. Gwen had the perfect purse and matching shoes for every occasion, loved the color red, exotic travel, playing pinochle and reading. She also delighted in life’s simple pleasures, a great sale, vanilla soft serve ice cream, dark chocolate and Bailey’s Irish Cream, all in moderation, of course. The family wishes to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Janice Takata-Rossi, the talented medical professionals at both Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton and at OSF St. Francis Medical Center (5000 and Intermediate Medical Surgical Unit) for the care they provided to Gwen.

Memorials:
Haiti Relief and Development Fund, American Red Cross, Central Illinois Chapter, 311 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Ave., Peoria, IL 61605 or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Building Fund, 225 E. Greenwood St., Morton, IL 61550 or SFMC-College of Nursing, 511 NE Greenleaf St., Peoria, IL 61603 or Apostolic Christian Restmor, 1500 Parkside Ave., Morton, IL 61550
Cemetery:
Hillcrest Memory Gardens
Washington Road
Morton, IL 61550 (map/driving directions)
Visitations:
4:00PM to 7:00PM on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at Knapp - Johnson Funeral Home (map/driving directions)
9:00AM to 9:45AM on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (map/driving directions)

Services:
10:00AM at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 (map/driving directions)
1:00PM at Hillcrest Memory Gardens on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 (map/driving directions)