Obituary of Eunice E. Hillert

" Eunice E. (Spencer) Hillert, 79, of Edison Drive, died Wednesday at Holyoke Hospital. Born in Holyoke, Nov. 16,1922, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Ellen (Murphy) Spencer. Eunice was raised in the Fairview section of Chicopee, then lived in Holyoke for 25 years, before returning to Chicopee in 1987. She relocated to S. Hadley in 1997 to live with her daughter. Eunice was a member of the Second Baptist Church in S. Hadley as well as St. Anthony of Padua Church in Williamansett. She had been employed by Chicopee Savings Bank for about 20 years and then, with her late husband, owned and operated Hillert’s Coffee Shop on the corner of Sargent and High Streets in Holyoke for many years. She was also formerly employed at the Holyoke Day Nursery. Mrs. Hillert worked for 30 years as the organist and choir director at Westover Air Force Base. She also served as the Director of Music at First Baptist Church and Our Lady of Perpetual Help both in Holyoke, St. Theresa’s Church and Second Baptist Church in S.Hadley, Agawam Baptist Church, and St. Anthony of Padua Church in Willimansett. She was a member of the American Guild of Organists, a former member of the Quota Club,and formerly served on the Board of Trustees of Village Cemetery in S. Hadley. Eunice also was awarded the “Orchids to You” award by the Springfield Newspaper . She was predeceased by her husband, Leonard W. Hillert in 1978 and is survived by her daughter Leone “Lee” and son in law John H. MacLean with whom she lived, as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Saturday at 9:45 a.m. from the Beers & Story S. Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St., followed by a mass in St. Anthony’s Church at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Village Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Please make donations in her memory to Friends of Village Cemetery,c/o the funeral home, S. Hadley Lions Club Eye Research, Box 81, S. Hadley, American Cancer Society or to a charity of one’s choice. "