Marie Castaneda Hillyer, 69, passed from this Life on Thursday, August 3, 2006. She was born in Racine on October 1, 1936, daughter of the late Theron Jorgen and Marceille Tertia (nee: Christensen) Hansche.
Most of Marie’s life was spent in local schools as a student and a teacher. Her education began in kindergarten at Hansche School in Racine County, and continued through Racine County Teacher’s College (then called Rural Normal School), Dominican College in Racine, Chico State College in California, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Carthage College in Kenosha. Marie taught school for 39 years before illness hastened her retirement. At the beginning of her career she taught fifth and sixth grades at Hansche School in the same room where she had once been a student. The last 33 years were spent in the Kenosha Unified Schools as a classroom teacher, a Reading Specialist, and a Resource Teacher. She was honored as the Kenosha Unified Schools Teacher of the Year in 1982. Marie was co-founder of the A.R.K. (Animal Rehabilitation Kinship). She sheltered hundreds of abandoned or abused cats and dogs in her home between the years of 1983 and 1996 while they waited for adoption.
She is survived by her sons, Gregg Castaneda Hillyer and Chris B. (Lisa) Hillyer; sister Eleanor (Russell) Bullamore; two brothers, Tim (Bonnie) Hansche and Jerry (Connie) Hansche. Her daughter-in-law Debra K. Hillyer also preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held in the funeral home on Monday, August 7, 2006 at 7 p.m., with Rev. Kara Baylor officiating. All are invited to visit with the family in the funeral home on Monday from 4-7 p.m. Burial will take place at Mound Cemetery on Tuesday at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, Marie requested memorials to H.O.P.E. Safehouse Building Fund, 1911 Taylor Avenue in Racine, where her love for all God’s creatures is shared, and work continues to make it a better world for everyone.
A special thanks to Dr. Michael Mullane and his exceptional staff at Oncology Alliance of Wisconsin for nine years of extraordinary and compassionate care, as well as the kind and caring staff at Hospice Alliance, Inc. in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin.
Brenda M Osborn (Noel) says
I’m only learning about her passing today. I want you to know she is the one teacher I remember most who helped me so much! I was in her class in 3rd grade at Jefferson Elementary. She helped me excel so much that I made almost straight A’s the whole year. She was the best teacher I ever had. I think of her often. She definitely left her mark!