Shirley Mae Hillman

Shirley Mae Hillman (Nee Arndt) Obituary

Shirley Mae Hillman (nee Arndt) was born on July 24, 1945 and passed away on February 22, 2017 in Hospice care in Austin, Texas at the age of 71. Shirley was predeceased by her parents Adolf and Lena Arndt of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Shirley is survived by her son Gregory (Kristen) living in Houston, Texas, her since deceased daughter Leanne, Shirley's brother Delvin (Marlene) now living in Melville, Saskatchewan, sister Gloria (Brian) in Vancouver, British Columbia and predeceased brother David as well as many nieces and nephews.

Shirley attended Brandon Collegiate Institution high school and married Garth Hillman, May 6, 1967 in Brandon, Manitoba. They were high school sweethearts albeit they did not attend the same high school. Garth attended the bitter rival, Vincent Massey high school. Shirley cheered for both basketball teams when they played each other. She worked at the Royal Bank University Branch in Edmonton supporting the couple until the children came along.

Shirley made friends easily in Edmonton. She enjoyed playing golf and board games and had a great sense of humor. After Greg and Leanne were born and Garth finished grad school in November of 1973 the family moved to Ottawa Ontario to start his first job.

One of her favorite times was the family trip in a travel trailer pulled by their Ford Cougar, escaping the cold in Ottawa in January, to Disney World in Florida. Shortly thereafter, in 1978 Garth was transferred to work in Nashville, Tennessee.

Shirley and Garth separated in 1980. Shirley spent time in Brandon and, in 1985 relocated to Phoenix to be closer to her children, before ultimately relocating three years later to San Diego, California.

The happiest years of Shirley’s life were undoubtedly in San Diego. She loved the sun and surf and made many great friends along the way. She worked for the San Diego County Court system from 1987 until her retirement in 2008. While working at the San Diego County Court she met a kindhearted man who was a mental health counselor by the name of Bill McAuliffe. Bill and Shirley became great friends over the years and eventually went on vacations together and lived the “California dream lifestyle” together. Shirley loved “Billy” very much.

Eventually “Billy” had to move back to Boston where he grew up to be taken care of by his immediate family in his advancing years. Shirley ultimately moved to Texas to spend time with her grown children and ultimately lived with her daughter Leanne for seven years before her mothers’ passing.

It was Shirley’s wish that she be cremated, and her ashes spread into the Pacific Ocean because it was in Southern California spending time with Billy that she was the happiest. We will miss her dearly and know that she is with the Lord who has “wiped away every tear from her eyes”. (Revelation 21:4)