Dorothy Hile

Dorothy Hile, daughter of Joseph and Blanche (Bolster) Kiefer, died peacefully at Arbor Hospice on Wednesday morning, April 27. She was 99. Dorothy was the matriarch of a large and loving family full of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was a truly remarkable woman with a generous spirit and a beautiful heart. Born in Ida, Michigan in 1923, Dorothy was one of 9 children–six daughters and three sons. She lived on the family farm until the age of 2 when the family moved to Monroe. She was a 1940 graduate of Monroe High School and the first in her family to receive a high school diploma. She met her husband Kenneth Hile when she was 16 at Monroe High and they married at the United Methodist church in 1943 in Ipswich, MA where Ken was stationed. In the early years of their marriage, they enjoyed playing cards, spending time with family and friends, and loved going out dancing, often driving to dance halls in Toledo. Dorothy worked as a secretary for Monroe Auto Equipment from 1940 until 1947 when they started their family. She returned to work in 1964 as the beloved secretary at Raisinville Elementary School until her retirement in 1985. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for 17 years and was active on numerous boards and committees, including the Monroe Council of Churches. She found great joy in serving her church community as a member of the prayer chain, preparing and serving meals at funeral luncheons, and visiting homebound members alongside the church’s former pastor. Dorothy and Ken were avid travelers, visiting 48 states together throughout their marriage. They enjoyed large family trips to Shaker Village in Kentucky, visiting their daughter in California, and traveling with their close friends Dick and Gerry DusSault. Dorothy was a fervent reader, loved watching cooking shows and playing Free Cell. She never missed a chance to bake brownies for her grandchildren, and her pies were coveted among her large extended family. The pride and joy of Dorothy’s life was her family. She was an extremely loving and proud mother to her daughter Kathy (and her partner Kathleen), and her sons John (Janice), David (Claudia), and Dick (Wendy); a doting and generous grandmother to Jim (Hayley), John (Kelly), Allison (Nick), Stephen (Sarah), Andrew (Sara), Matt (Amy), Becky (Zak), and Paul (Grace); and a smitten great-grandmother to her 8 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth, her parents Joseph and Blanche, her 5 sisters, 3 brothers, and her daughter-in-law Janice. Visitation and funeral service originally scheduled for Dorothy on May 1 and May 2, 2022 have been cancelled due to a Covid outbreak within the family. A private graveside service will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. For those interested, donations can be made in Dorothy’s honor to St. Paul’s UMC. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com.

Dorothy Hile

January 3, 1923 - April 27, 2022