Lilly Hiller

Lilly H. Hiller, of Fort Collins, passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 after 97 quality years of life. Lilly was born and raised in New York City to Ludwig and Anna Herlitschek. Along with her three brothers, she helped the family in their neighborhood eatery and pinochle parlor. As a teenager, she also worked at the family's summer hotel business in the mountain area of Tannersville, N.Y. At a getaway weekend for herself in the Catskill Mountains, she met the saxophone player of the band playing there, made a date to play tennis the next day and they spent the next 50 years together. Lilly and Manuel B. Hiller were married in 1945, after he returned from Europe serving in World War II and began work as an attorney in Washington, D. C. Manny died in 1990. In the 1950s, Lilly attended the University of Maryland, where she studied interior design, which was to become her occupation for many years to come. She and Manny enjoyed music, theater, travel in the U.S. and abroad, golf and much more. Lilly had a passion for art and leaves a legacy of her paintings including oils, acrylics and especially watercolors. In Washington, she served as a docent at the National Gallery of Art. She is survived by her son, Andrew Hiller; her daughter-in-law, Carol Hiller; and brothers, Walter Herlitschek, and Robert Herlitschek. Memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Diabetes Foundation in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Ft. Collins, CO 80524. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel followed by a reception at the Hiller home, 806 Whalers Way, Fort Collins.