1926
Wilma
2015
Wilma Hillman
October 7, 1926 — January 20, 2015
SERVICES: Private
Wilma Carroll Hillman
October 7, 1926 - January 20, 2015
Passed away surrounded in love by her five children on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wilma Carroll Hillman graduated from Norwood High School in 1945 and completed nurses training at the Christ Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She then later in life earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Thomas More College and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Xavier University. Hillman worked for University Hospital for 20 years, retiring in 1990 as Senior Assistant Administrator of Nursing. Hillman called the historic Fowler farmhouse in Madeira home for 52 years. She was married to Edward Hillman, Jr. from 1946 until his death in 1999. She is survived by four sons, Edward III Hillman, Bruce Joel Hillman, Kevin Carroll Hillman, and Eric David Hillman, and one daughter, Lisa (Anne) Hillman Becker, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Hillman traveled to Ireland three times and visited London, Spain, Williamsburg, Virginia, Boston and most of the New England states. She was the recipient of several honors over her lifetime, including membership in the National Honor Society, Valedictorian of the Norwood High School Class of 1946, Regent of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, President of the Air Force Wives Club, Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, President of the Friends of the Youngers, and the first female member of the Finance Committee of the University of Cincinnati Hospital.
Hillman was fascinated by history, and spent her vacations researching in courthouses. She became a renowned genealogist, and traveled to Ireland, the land of her ancestors three times where she slept in Dromoland Castle, the home of the O'Briens, the descendants of whom participated in the Easter Uprising, which led to the freedom of the south of Ireland from Great Britain. Hillman visited Leap Castle, a one-time Carroll stronghold. The pinnacle of her genealogical career, however, was locating the land and cottage, still standing, of her Meara ancestors. It had been a lifetime labor of love, but she found her ancestral home.
Hillman had many opportunities to live life to its fullest. As a child of the Great Depression, she learned what it meant to be dirt poor. She spent her summers on her grandmother's farm in Piner, Kentucky, pulling worms off the tobacco plants in the hot sun, without the creature comforts of running water or electricity. This is where she learned to accept what comes and make the most of it. This is also where she learned that while others considered education an optional luxury, she considered it a necessity and she spent her entire life learning. A college education was not an option for her children, it was mandatory, and she committed herself fully to seeing that each and every one of her children received a quality education at the college level.
Music was her lifetime refuge. When things were good, she played the piano. When things were bad, she found comfort in the music. She sang in the high school choir all four years and later with the "Mother Singers," a group of young wives who entertained at nursing homes. She was also a member of a piano, violin, and cello trio and played chamber music for weddings and other events.
She considered her greatest achievement her children who filled her life with never ending joy, love, and pride. They all presented her with grandchildren to love and enjoy. Her final advice to one and all is simply this, "I have tasted all of life, the good and the bad. To you I would say, follow your interests, follow your dreams. It is all out there for the taking. Just reach for it and it will be yours."
Wilma Carroll Hillman
October 7, 1926 - January 20, 2015
Passed away surrounded in love by her five children on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wilma Carroll Hillman graduated from Norwood High School in 1945 and completed nurses training at the Christ Hospital School of Nursing in 1947. She then later in life earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Thomas More College and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Xavier University. Hillman worked for University Hospital for 20 years, retiring in 1990 as Senior Assistant Administrator of Nursing. Hillman called the historic Fowler farmhouse in Madeira home for 52 years. She was married to Edward Hillman, Jr. from 1946 until his death in 1999. She is survived by four sons, Edward III Hillman, Bruce Joel Hillman, Kevin Carroll Hillman, and Eric David Hillman, and one daughter, Lisa (Anne) Hillman Becker, twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Hillman traveled to Ireland three times and visited London, Spain, Williamsburg, Virginia, Boston and most of the New England states. She was the recipient of several honors over her lifetime, including membership in the National Honor Society, Valedictorian of the Norwood High School Class of 1946, Regent of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, President of the Air Force Wives Club, Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, President of the Friends of the Youngers, and the first female member of the Finance Committee of the University of Cincinnati Hospital.
Hillman was fascinated by history, and spent her vacations researching in courthouses. She became a renowned genealogist, and traveled to Ireland, the land of her ancestors three times where she slept in Dromoland Castle, the home of the O'Briens, the descendants of whom participated in the Easter Uprising, which led to the freedom of the south of Ireland from Great Britain. Hillman visited Leap Castle, a one-time Carroll stronghold. The pinnacle of her genealogical career, however, was locating the land and cottage, still standing, of her Meara ancestors. It had been a lifetime labor of love, but she found her ancestral home.
Hillman had many opportunities to live life to its fullest. As a child of the Great Depression, she learned what it meant to be dirt poor. She spent her summers on her grandmother's farm in Piner, Kentucky, pulling worms off the tobacco plants in the hot sun, without the creature comforts of running water or electricity. This is where she learned to accept what comes and make the most of it. This is also where she learned that while others considered education an optional luxury, she considered it a necessity and she spent her entire life learning. A college education was not an option for her children, it was mandatory, and she committed herself fully to seeing that each and every one of her children received a quality education at the college level.
Music was her lifetime refuge. When things were good, she played the piano. When things were bad, she found comfort in the music. She sang in the high school choir all four years and later with the "Mother Singers," a group of young wives who entertained at nursing homes. She was also a member of a piano, violin, and cello trio and played chamber music for weddings and other events.
She considered her greatest achievement her children who filled her life with never ending joy, love, and pride. They all presented her with grandchildren to love and enjoy. Her final advice to one and all is simply this, "I have tasted all of life, the good and the bad. To you I would say, follow your interests, follow your dreams. It is all out there for the taking. Just reach for it and it will be yours."
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