Margaret Ann (Dorn) Hillyer
Madison – Margaret Ann (Dorn) Hillyer, age 84, passed away on Friday, March 4th, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital.
She was born in Madison, WI, on May 15, 1931, the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Wastian) Dorn. Marge graduated from West High School in 1949. On November 28, 1959, she married Richard Silvin Hillyer, who was introduced to her by a friend as ‘her mother’s handsome tenant.’ Together they had a son and two daughters.
At a young age, Marge worked for her father’s grocery store, when not attending school. After high school, she was employed as a lead secretary at a medical billing company for physicians. When her children were older, she began working for her adored brothers at Dorn Hardware, where she worked for 34 years until her first stroke in 2007. She loved her family, her catholic faith, traveling to different states and countries, her many friends from work, her neighborhood and many social gatherings.
Marge was very athletic for a woman of her day, enjoying a competitive game of baseball, basketball or tennis with anyone who challenged her. She was an avid Badger and Packer fan, and rarely missed a Bucks game. She loved to entertain and organize family events, especially if a Euchre or Sheepshead game was involved. She was often the ‘life or the party,’ with her teasing wit, loud laughter and infectious energy. Always a hard worker, she fought the years after her first stroke with determination to improve her quality of life with therapy, humor, and appreciation for the frequent company of others.
She is survived by her daughter Lori Hillyer, son Gary Hillyer, daughter Joni (Fredrik) Leer, five grandchildren Karin Staley, Matthieu, Melanie, Joshua and Nathan Leer, and two precious great-grandchildren: Kamya and KJ. She will also be missed by many beloved nieces and nephews, and four sister-in-laws: Alice Dorn, Darlene Dorn, Mary Jane Karis and Ethel Denton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers (Harry, Jerry, Joe, Jim, Vic and Arnie), three sisters (Henny, Dorothy and Mary Ellen), and several in-laws (Lois, Carol, Cy, Ed, Bob, Jim and Arlie.)
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 5313 Flad Ave. with Fr. Tafadzwa Kushamba officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home, 5701 Odana Road. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.
