Kathleen Marie Aed

Born in Mishawaka to Joe and Lucy Hillaert, she had two brothers, Jim Hillaert (deceased) and John Hillaert. She attended St Bavo’s and then matriculated to Mishawaka HS. During her high school years, she participated in sports, several clubs, and theatre. With a large extended family, she spent many memorable days with her aunts and uncles, and several cousins.

Following in her brother Jim’s footsteps (her brother John later as well) she enrolled at Purdue University. There she met her future husband, George Aed. Before she was able to complete her degree, they moved to Oklahoma where her son Michael was born in 1971. As the wife of an army officer, they moved around, landing in Germany where her son Jonathon was born in 1975.

Unfortunately, the two divorced a few years later, and Kathy moved her two boys to Yorba Linda, California. Instantly, she made wonderful, lifelong friends through Pop Warner football, JUSA soccer, and Little League baseball. This bond would remain until her last days. Although a single, working mother, she was always a team mom for one of the sports teams, a booster member, videographer, or leader of the cheering section. She never missed a game either of her sons played, from t-ball to college.

Sales brought her to Southern California, working for Uniroyal at first, but then moving onto other companies. In the late 90s she started her own property management company and thrived. She was a hard worker, always going above and beyond to make her clients a priority. She ultimately retired in 2018.

Her greatest joy was being a grandmother. She loved being Grammy to Kai, Mason, Michael, Natalia, Alejandro, and Brooklyn. She would visit Fresno as much as possible to see the Aed Brigade and be as much a part of their lives as she could. Due to her health, she was not able to do all the things she wanted. Despite that, her intentions were pure, and we all knew how much she loved us.

Her last few years were spent at Eastern Star where she received wonderful care from their staff. They always commented how fun she was, how she loved to laugh, and especially how much she loved to sing. Her “unfiltered” mind produces some great conversations, with new memories that will last forever.

She will be greatly missed by everyone…she was such a powerful woman, wonderful friend, supportive mother, loving grandmother, and just fun to be around.