Lilia Joyce Hice

After completing school and obtaining her formal education, Lilia relocated to San Antonio, Texas where her love story with Willie Hice began. After they were married, they moved to Houston, where she gave birth to her daughter Nicole in 1976 and then her son Kristain in 1981. In addition to her biological children, Lilia was also a second mother to her son’s best friends. She would always ensure they were fed and often offer words of wisdom (a good scolding if needed), or just an ear and a hug.

Lilia worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in Downtown Houston for over 30 years, until her retirement.

After retiring from the banking industry, Lilia and her husband Willie embarked on exciting trips around the U.S. and beyond. This leisure phase of life allowed Lilia to fulfill her love of travel and to spend quality time with her large family and groups of friends. Lilia’s travels carried her to Alaska, China, Europe, and many more exciting places. Over the years, Lilia amassed a collection of candid pictures, which captured fun or sentimental moments in life with the people who loved her most. She was always willing to pull out one of her photo albums and share her memories with you.

In addition to travel, Lilia loved music. Her home was always filled with it. She was also an avid bowler. She was in a traveling league. She and her teammates enjoyed their victories and made sure you knew about Lilia’s near-perfect score, which earned their team a state championship trophy in 1986.

Lilia was a parishioner at Kingwood United Methodist Church for many years. One of her greatest joys outside of church, watching football or attending Texans games, was spending time with and spoiling her three grandchildren, Keo, Kayden, and Kash.

She cherished family. Her many siblings and cousins gave her a host of nieces and nephews, who’ve extended the family tree with several generations. They are all touched by Lilia’s existence in some way. Friendship was paramount to Lilia. The Oblaks’, the Violettes’ and the Franks’ were three of the first couples that Lilia and Willie befriended in Houston. Susan & Frank Oblak, Frankie & Eddie Violette, and Mary & Charles Frank became a part of the fabric of Lilia’s life. Friends turned family, woven in love. Entwined for over forty years, their families spent an abundance of time together. These friendships, and so many others that were dear to her, endured up until her passing.

Lilia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and good friend to many people. Lilia leaves to celebrate her life and homegoing, her daughter, Nicole, her son, Kristain, his wife, Treasure, and their three children, and her elder sister, Lazelle Phillips-Hunnigan.

Given the size of her family, Lilia additionally leaves a host of other family, friends, and loved ones.

Lilia was preceded in her homegoing by her beloved husband, Willie Hice, her sisters, Versa, Helen, and Lillian, her brothers Leatha "Brother”, Cecil, and her Brother-in-law, Willie Mills (Husband of Helen). Lilia was loved by so many and will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

The family of Lilia Hice wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the love, prayers, support, and other means of expression that have been extended during this time of bereavement.

A Visitation for Lilia will be held Friday, November 1, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, followed by Funeral service will occur Friday, November 1, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039. A Committal Service will occur Friday, November 1, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038.