Doris Jean Jean Hilmes

Doris Jean 'Jean' Hilmes




Doris Jean 'Jean' Hilmes, nee Miller, was born on August 14, 1933 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Arthur and Ethel Miller, nee Gobin. She passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri following complications of heart surgery.

She was united in marriage to Robert Hilmes on June 11, 1955 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in East St. Louis, Illinois and celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary with her husband, Bob, on June 11, 2015. Over those 60 years, they traveled throughout Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, across America and multiple trips throughout Alaska and Canada. They would meet the locals, share in customs and Jean would shop, always scouting out a local and even international Walmart. In the wintertime, they traveled to Texas to avoid the cold temperatures of Illinois, but she never wanted to be called a 'snowbird'. She said that's what they call old people!

She was very active in the Millstadt Community. As a St. James Catholic Church parishioner, she belonged to the Perpetual Help Counsel of Catholic Women. She was a member of the Millstadt Civic Club, Over Fifty Club at St. James and Ladies Domino's Group. She was a St. Clair County Election judge for many years. She belonged to the Millstadt Sister Cities Organization where she and her husband portrayed Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for over 15 years at the Weihnacht Festival. She was very involved in the Illinois Homemakers Extension. She participated in local meetings and fundraisers to support the Extension. She attended the Illinois Homemaker's Camp at the 4-H Camp in Monticello for over 40 years where she was an officer, emcee and organizer for the yearly auction that raised thousands of dollars for 4-H Camp.

Besides being a homemaker, she worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis and Schnucks in
Belleville. Her list of hobbies is long from crafting to hunting, fishing, camping and traveling. She even taught herself to play the dulcimer.

Jean would want to be remembered for her gifts of friendship, loyalty and sense of humor. Her ability to entertain people and make them laugh was one of her strongest attributes. She loved her family and friends, through her thoughtfulness, giving and caring gestures. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Sincere appreciation and gratitude is given to Dr. Brad Ringhofer and his office staff for decades of exceptional care.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Arthur Miller.

Surviving are her husband, Robert Hilmes of Millstadt, Illinois; her daughters, Denise (David) May of Fairview Heights, Illinois and Barbara (Wayne) Pearson of St. Libory, Illinois; her brother, Robert (Gerry) Miller of Smithton, Illinois; her grandchildren, Keale (Adrien) Caye of Kansas City, Missouri, Garrett May and Samuel May, both of Fairview Heights, Illinois, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Friends may call on Monday, November 9, 2015 from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 from 9:00 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. at the Creason Funeral Home, Millstadt, Illinois. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association and will be received at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at St. James Catholic Church in Millstadt, Illinois with Monsignor Marvin Volk officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Evergreen Cemetery in Millstadt.