Margarette Patricia Hiller of Aurora, Colorado, passed away on July 2, 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Known as “Patty" to family, and "Pat" to friends, she was married to the late Staff Sergeant John Joseph “Jack” Hiller at Camp Gordon, Georgia in 1951. Pat was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church, attending Catholic school and graduating from Strong Vincent High School in Erie Pennsylvania in 1946. She was a longtime member of the Catholic congregation at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center until its closing, and a current member of Saint Pius Tenth Parish in Aurora. Services will be held at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Denver on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 10:30 am.
Born Margarette Patricia Albertson in Detroit, Michigan, Pat grew up in Aspinwall and Erie, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pat initially pursued an education in nursing at Erie’s St. Vincent Hospital, then went on to work for Hammermill Paper Company and General Electric Corporation in Erie.
Pat met her future husband Jack at the Slovac Social Club in Erie, where they shared a mutual love of dancing and Polka music. Upon Jack entering the United States Army, they were married at Camp Gordon, Georgia, in 1951 before Jack’s deployment to Korea. After a brief break in service after the Korean War, Jack re-enlisted in the Army, and he and Pat went on to be stationed at Landstuhl, Germany, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Verdun, France, Fort Devens, Massachusetts, and Chitose, Japan.
After a sudden illness, Jack was sent to Fitzsimons Army Medical Center from Japan and medically retired. Pat and Jack then settled in Aurora.
Pat helped to support the family with various jobs during the intervening years, to include Cashier at the Lowry Air Force Base Commissary, then working in the Radiology Department, managing the Military Clothing Sales Store, and finally working in the Medical Correspondence Department, all at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. Upon her retirement from the Civil Service, Pat enjoyed playing Bingo and traveling. She spent her time volunteering for Meals on Wheels, The Volunteers of America, and was a member of the Red Hat Ladies Society, which made lap quilts for nursing homes, along with other various charitable activities.
She is survived by four children: Deborah Louise Hiller Rodgerson (John) of Elgin, South Carolina, Donald Joseph Hiller, Nancy Ann Hiller Wilson and Diane Marie Hiller Massey, (James) all of Aurora, Grandchildren, John Rodgerson III of SC, Jenny Williams of SC, Dustin Hiller of MT, Brian Massey of MD, Laura Massey of TX, Jason and Cynthia Wilson of Co, Great Grand Children, Lee and Jenna Williams, Justine Hiller, and Nevaeh Nix. A host of cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her Parents, Hugh Cain and May Aire Albertson, of Erie Pa, Sisters, Rita Holmes of Brownsville, TX, Grace Bassick of Greenville, NY, Ellen Durovchic, of Vancouver, WA, Brothers Frank and Jack Albertson of Erie, Pa, son Ronald John Hiller, of Billings, Montana, a grandson, Thomas Carter Massey, and a son in law, Patrick Alonzo Wilson, of Denver, CO.
Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
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