Edith Hillard

Edith Jean Hillard saw many changes in her 89 years, from the Wright Brothers to men on the moon, from “talkies” to portable DVD players, but the one thing that never changed was her love for her family. Blessed with five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, nothing gave her more pleasure than getting together with all of her family. How very lucky they were.

In the year 1919 the United States was alive with the enthusiasm of a new peacetime. The Great War had ended, America had established itself as a world leader, and the economy was strengthening. Whether you lived in the center of a busy city or on a quiet farm, this was a good time to be in the workforce, and for Johannes and Edith (Robinson) Mol, this was also a good time to add another child to their family. Johannes and Edith lived in the bustling community of Grand Rapids, Michigan with their two children, and on May 13, 1919, joyously welcomed child number three, a beautiful baby girl they named Edith Jean, who was born at home. When a fourth child arrived, the Mol family was complete.

Edith and her siblings grew up on the north end of the city where Edith attended Palmer Elementary School. The family was members of the Berean Baptist Church and a strong faith was always part of Edith’s life. As a child, she began taking dancing lessons. This was during the depression and when she found out that her mother was taking in other peoples’ washing to pay for the lessons, she quit. Even at that early age, she appreciated and understood hard work.

Like many teenagers of her time, she dropped out of school to find work to help support the family. For a while she worked as a housemaid for a family in Rockford, Michigan. Later, she took a position as a waitress at Herpolsheimer’s Department Store in downtown Grand Rapids. Around this same time, she met and in 1940, married Edward Berry. They settled in the north end of Grand Rapids and then, with the advent of World War II, Edward, like many other young men, went off to war. During his absence, Edith worked in a factory manufacturing parachutes for the war effort. When Edward returned they started their family and were blessed with three wonderful daughters, Bonnie, Edith and Diane. However, some years later, Edith and Edward divorced.

Now a single mom, Edith needed to find a way to support her family and she took several different jobs in a variety of factories in the city. During this time, a friend introduced her to a gentleman named Cecil Hillard and they were soon married. Even though she now had a husband, Edith continued to work and continued to live on the north end of Grand Rapids for the rest of her life.

Some time later, Bonnie’s husband died and Edith moved in with her daughter. She and Bonnie lived together for several years. One day, while visiting her daughter Diane, she learned that her daughter was working toward earning her GED. A teacher came to Diane’s house once a week for tutoring and Edith, who had not graduated from high school, became very interested. Soon she was also working on her GED and she and Diane graduated together, an accomplishment they were both very proud of.

In 1996 Bonnie was in an automobile accident and succumbed to her injuries. This was very devastating to Edith and she found comfort when she moved in with her second daughter, Edith. Her daughter lived on Wabasis Lake near Greenville and Edith loved this location. On nice days she would often fish from the dock or the boat, enjoying the peace and quiet of the lake. The two Ediths attended services at the Oakwood Christian Reformed Church and Edith, the mother, was eventually baptized, becoming a member of the church.

Edith loved being surrounded by friends and family. She was a very fun loving person and with her warm personality, had many friends. Her family was always amazed that when they went someplace, there was always someone there that Edith knew. Any reason was excuse enough to get together with her family and she especially looked forward to the Christmas holidays. She always had her shopping done way before anyone else.

Her grandchildren brought her great joy and she was always ready and willing to play any game with them. Some of her favorites were card games and board games. She could spend hours playing Yahtzee with her friend. Doing the crossword puzzle in the Sunday edition of the Grand Rapids Press was a weekly tradition and she surprised everyone by completing it each week. And when she wasn’t involved in any of these activities, Edith could be found reading. In fact, she had read 213 books from the church library, another great accomplishment.

Edith Hillard was an upbeat, positive person and also very determined. Spending time with her family and having a good time with all those around her was what she liked to do best. The emptiness caused by her passing will be filled with the wonderful memories she created with those she loved. She will be dearly missed.

Edith Jean Hillard passed away Tuesday October 28, 2008 after a brief illness. . She was preceded in death by her daughter Bonnie Fisher. Surviving are her children: Edith and Greg Raulin, Diane and Doug Mead; her grandchildren: Scott Webster, Steve Webster, Melissa George, Robert and Michelle Webster and Fred and Ashley Ditmar, 9 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren, her brother Ray Mol, two nieces and a nephew. Funeral and committal services will be held Friday at 2 P.M. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien- Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield N.E. with Rev., Coleman Moore of Oakwood Christian Reformed Church officiating. Interment will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Hillard reposes at the funeral home where friends may call Thursday from 6-8 PM and again on Friday from 1 P.M. until the time of the funeral service. To share a memory or sign the online register book please visit Edith’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Spectrum Health Hospice, who provided such wonderful care during Edith’s last days, would be appreciated.