HARDWICK – Lorraine Theresa Hill, 96, of the Villages in Florida, formerly of Hardwick died peacefully, on December 4, at The Corner Stone Hospice Center in Florida. Her family was at her side.
She was born June 5, 1929, in Danville, the daughter of the late Louis and Clara (des Trois Maisons) Fournier. She attended Walden public schools and graduated from Hardwick Academy in the class of 1947.
In her earlier years Lorraine was employed by local businesses including: the telephone company and the granite sheds, both in Hardwick.
Lorraine married Wilfred G. Hill and together they moved to California where Lorraine was employed for six years by Northrop Aircraft. In 1958 the Hill family returned to Vermont where she and her husband opened Hill’s Diner and Hill’s Men’s Store. At that same time Lorraine worked in the guidance department at Hazen Union School. She then worked for the State of Vermont Department of Social Welfare until she retired. In 1992 she was named employee of the year. She also received a letter of commendation from Governor Madeline Kunin in 1985.
Lorraine was a very active member of Mary Queen of All Saints Parish, Court St. Veronica Catholic Daughters, one of the first groups of extraordinary ministers of the Eucharistic, lector and a faith formation teacher, as well as assisting with odd jobs as needed. She was presented with a certificate of appreciation of that church. She also was very active in the Hardwick community as a member of the Hardwick Senior Citizens, the Red Hat Society, American Legion Post No. 7 Auxiliary, Hardwick Depot, and Hardwick Food Shelf.
Lorraine was always full of life. She was very sociable and greeted everyone with a big smile. She also enjoyed watching and feeding the birds, gardening, and spending time with her friends and church. She was thrilled at the beauty of watching the full moon. She loved her family above all and was very proud of them. Those of you who knew her must have heard her “brag a little.” She loved Hardwick and her friends and if she was here now, she would tell you how much she was blessed and to say, “God Bless you all!”
Survivors include two sons, James “Jim” Hill (Dianne) of The Villages in Florida, Robert “Bob” Hill (Cindy) of Attleboro, Mass.; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, many nieces, and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Wilfred, and a half-sister Alice Estes.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the spring of 2026, with a date and time to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Mary Queen of all Saints Parish, P.O. Box 496, Hardwick, VT 05843.
Arrangements are in the care of Dian R. Holcomb of Northern Vermont Funeral Service, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick. Online condolences are welcomed at northernvermontfuneralservice.com
