Jennie F. Hilsee
AUGUST 13, 1925 – MARCH 13, 2023
Jennie F. Hilsee passed away peacefully on Monday, March 13, 2023. She was 97 years old, born in Neligh, Nebraska on August 13, 1925, to the late Mason A. and Marietta (Purcell) Frazell.
She is survived by daughters Marietta M. Hilsee and Susan (Frederick) Hall and a son, Donald M. Hilsee, all of Philadelphia, PA; grandchildren, Christina (Peter) Marrero and Vanessa (Angelo) Gamboa; and great-grandchildren Darien Marerro and Christopher Marrero. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, David E. Hilsee; and siblings, Frances (Frazell) Whitzell, Theodore Frazell, and Carolyn (Frazell) Hegner.
Jennie graduated from Lake Worth High School in Florida. She had degrees from Palm Beach Junior College in Florida, Radford College in Virginia, and Philadelphia Divinity School in Pennsylvania. She was named “Outstanding Senior” in both high school and college. She was a member of the honor society Kappa Delta Pi. Throughout her school years she received numerous awards.
Early in her working life Jennie was a Director of Religious Education at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. She spent two years as a missionary in Appalachia. For most of her working life she was a control clerk in the retail industry. In her retirement years she was a preschool assistant.
When she was not working, she enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, craft making, reading, attending church and spending time with her family.
She was generous with her time. For many years she volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Girl Scouts (as a Brownie Troop Leader). For more than 60 years she was a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church where she taught Church School, was on the Altar Guild, and was a Liturgical Assistant. For 73 years she was a member of The Order of the Daughters of the King and served the organization as a Provincial Treasurer. She was a member of Episcopal Church Women and the Alumnae Association of the Church Training and Deaconess House of the Philadelphia Diocese.
Jennie had a quiet, gentle spirit. She started each day with Bible reading and prayer. When she could no longer see, she enjoyed hearing the Bible and devotional books read aloud to her. She will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 630 East Cathedral Road on Saturday, August 12 at 11:00. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her name to:
Penn Memory Center, https://pennmemorycenter.org/gifts/donate/ or call 215-573-4961