Mary Elizabeth Hillard

October 16, 2014 Last Updated: October 16, 2014 10:01 AM Death Notice

Mary Elizabeth Hillard, 89, of Clarion passed on peacefully Saturday, surrounded by her four daughters and their families.

Mary lived most of her life on a farm south of Eau Claire, where she raised her four daughters with her beloved husband, the late Homer “Slim” Hillard, who passed away in February 1999.

She was born on July 20, 1925, in Stow, Ohio, the daughter of the late John and Bertha Martin Denning.

Mary began her working career at B.F. Goodrich after attending business school. After marrying Homer, she was a stay-at-home mom, working endless hours in her vegetable gardens on the farm, providing wholesome food for her family.

While living in Eau Claire, she was an active member at the Eau Claire Presbyterian Church where she was a church organist. She was a member of the Butler County Music Club and the AMT Club.

She worked at National Underground Storage in Boyers.

Mary was a volunteer for the American Red Cross for a number of years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Clarion and was an active member in its Church Circle. Mary played the piano, violin, and organ throughout her lifetime.

More than anything, Mary enjoyed her daughters, Judy, Kay, Becky, and Peggy. She is survived by the girls and their families who will miss her very much, Judy and Dale Fiscus of Shippenville, Kay and Gene Nowicki of Cranberry, Becky and Jim Martin of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Peggy and Rod McKenzie of East Hampton, Conn.

Mary's legacy includes her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Michael and Rori Smith and their daughters, Hannah and Leah, Lon and Melissa Fiscus and their children, Jack and Jordan, Michele and Ted Howard and their daughter, Rachel, Chelsea and Joe Sierko and their daughters, Alexis and Emma, Beth Nowicki, Gena and Mike McVitty, Hillary and John LaMalfa and their children, McKenzie and Sam, Justin Martin, and Jillian Martin and her husband, Aaron Fankell, and their son, Jack.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Mary was preceded in death by her two brothers, Paul and Bill Denning, and her grandson, Kyle McKenzie.

Hillard— The friends and family of Mary Elizabeth Hillard, who passed away Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, are invited for visitation from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at theGoble Funeral Home, 330 Wood St., Clarion.A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, 600 Wood St., Clarion with visitation one hour prior. Mary will be interred in the Eau Claire Cemetery.For those who wish, memorial donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Cancer Center at Clarion Hospital, One Hospital Drive, Clarion PA 16214, to the First United Methodist Church of Clarion, 600 Wood St., Clarion PA 16214, or to a charity of the donor's choosing.To send online condolences, share memories or obtain additional information, please visit the funeral home website at www.goblefh.net.