Mildred E. Hildebrand (nee Pfaff) Wed. June 28, 2023
Beloved wife of the late Fred A. Hildebrand; dear mother and mother-in-law
of Clay (Carrie) Hildebrand; dear grandmother of Jason Rogers and Nicole
(Andrew) Scott; dear great-grandmother of Ava Scott; dear sister of Dorothy
and Don Kearns and the late Jeanette and Don Fels; dear sister-in-law of
Charlie and Arlene Hildebrand and the late Dorothy and Bob McKinney; our
dear aunt, great-aunt, cousin and friend.
Born in 1929, Millie's formative years took place against the backdrop of
the Great Depression and World War Two. To say that she spent her youth
during tumultuous times is an understatement, however, she had very fond
memories of her years growing up with her two sisters in St. Louis. In 1948,
at the age of nineteen, she met Fred Hildebrand, and they quickly became a
couple. Unfortunately, their courtship was interrupted by the Korean War, as
Fred, a US Marine, was shipped overseas. Upon returning home, he
proposed, and they were married in1953.
Act two began in 1964 when the couple became a trio, following the birth of
their only child. Millie didn't return to work, choosing to focus on her role
as a wife and mom. She also volunteered at their son's grade school as a
room mother, worked in the school library and the cafeteria. Millie and Fred
were avid campers, enjoyed riding their bikes and, after taking a few lessons
at a local park, Millie fell in love with tennis. After Fred's retirement, the
couple spent more time traveling, including two particularly memorable
trips. The first to Hawaii, and the second, to the Marine Corps base at Camp
Lejeune, where the enlisted men and officers treated the visiting war
veterans like royalty.
Unfortunately, as is often the case, act three began with the passing of her
husband. In 1998, after forty-five years of marriage, Fred passed away at
the age of sixty-eight. Never one to sit idle, Millie began filling the void left
behind by her husband by traveling, reconnecting with friends and
embracing her role as grandmother to Jason and Nicole. Through-out her
eighties, and even into her early nineties, Millie exhibited the stamina of
someone half her age.

She spent her time volunteering in a hospital, delivering meals-on-wheels
and attending yoga classes twice each week.
On April 25 th of 2022, at the age of ninety-two, she added one more title to
her resume…great grandmother, or as she wanted to be called "Granny".
Millie loved spending time with her great granddaughter Ava, and had the
opportunity to do so often. Millie's third act came to an end on June 28 th ,
2023, in the home of her son and daughter-in-law. She was an inspiration to
those who knew her and will be greatly missed.
Visitation at the Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd.,
Creve Coeur, Thurs., July 6, from 3-8 p.m. Service Fri., July 7, 10 a.m.
Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers,
donations to American Cancer Society appreciated.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home osfuneralhomes.com