Obituary for Barbara Elizabeth Hiner
Barbara Elizabeth Hiner died peacefully at home on Saturday 27 July 2019 at about 2:00 PM. She was attended by her daughters, niece, and sons. She made a “good death,” having received Absolution, Viaticum, and the Anointing of the Sick.
Born Barbara Elizabeth Freebery on the 25 or 28 January 1939, she was the youngest but one of 12 children. She was called “Doll” by her brother Butch who was expecting a toy but got a sister instead. She was “Doll,” “Aunt Doll,” “Grandma Doll,” etc. for all of her 80 years of life. Even the nuns called her “Dolly.”
She attended St. Peter's Parish school in New Castle, and graduated from St. Peter's High School.
When she was 19, Doll married the notorious Jack Hiner and they shared their lives with devotion, affection, occasionally with sound and fury, for 54 years, until Jack's death in 2013. Though not always easy on each other, they grew up together, challenged, nurtured, and brought out the best in each other.
When Doll was two years old, her great friend and little sister Libby was born. From that day, they were inseparable until Libby's death in 1984. Doll was a second mother to Libby's four children. This was a role that she filled for nieces and nephews, granddaughters and grandsons, and many friends of her five children throughout the years.
Doll was deeply cheerful and bright. She and Libby led their eight children on almost weekly adventures to beaches, caves, zoos, amusement parks, etc. Making their childhood a traveling circus of excited companionship and laughter.
After Libby's death, Doll became quieter but her vivacity was not quenched. On her own, she continued to take the children to the beach every summer, though her alabaster skin would always burn to a bright and painful pink, and never tan even a little. Her habits of arranging adventures for children continued with her grandchildren, exploring Halloween campgrounds, historical villages, water parks, etc., until they were grown.
Doll also traveled with Jack, friends and occasionally on her own. She visited Vegas and Atlantic City (though she did not gamble). She visited her youngest daughter more than once in Hawaii and Paris. She cruised the Caribbean and Alaska. She vacationed several times in Mexico.
Doll Hiner was a loving mother, a wonderful wife, a good friend, and a nurturing help to many people. She was kind and encouraging, stern and sobering on occasion, and always loved. She was strong. She will be sadly missed.
Doll was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her youngest son, Jay, and her granddaughter, Niki; by her mother and father, James and Catherine, her brothers and sisters: Huck, Jack, George, Dick, Kitty, Margret, Bea, Ellen, Loretta, and Libby. She is survived by her children, John, Michele, Rob, and Kim, by her brother Butch, her sister-in-law Marlene, her niece Karen, and by many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and loving friends.
A public viewing for Doll will be held at 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday 5 August 2019 at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home on 6th Street, New Castle. The viewing will include a prayer service and commemoration beginning at 7:00 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11:00 am on Tuesday 6 August 2019 at Holy Spirit Church, 12 Winder Road, New Castle, Delaware. Interment will follow at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, Delaware.
Born Barbara Elizabeth Freebery on the 25 or 28 January 1939, she was the youngest but one of 12 children. She was called “Doll” by her brother Butch who was expecting a toy but got a sister instead. She was “Doll,” “Aunt Doll,” “Grandma Doll,” etc. for all of her 80 years of life. Even the nuns called her “Dolly.”
She attended St. Peter's Parish school in New Castle, and graduated from St. Peter's High School.
When she was 19, Doll married the notorious Jack Hiner and they shared their lives with devotion, affection, occasionally with sound and fury, for 54 years, until Jack's death in 2013. Though not always easy on each other, they grew up together, challenged, nurtured, and brought out the best in each other.
When Doll was two years old, her great friend and little sister Libby was born. From that day, they were inseparable until Libby's death in 1984. Doll was a second mother to Libby's four children. This was a role that she filled for nieces and nephews, granddaughters and grandsons, and many friends of her five children throughout the years.
Doll was deeply cheerful and bright. She and Libby led their eight children on almost weekly adventures to beaches, caves, zoos, amusement parks, etc. Making their childhood a traveling circus of excited companionship and laughter.
After Libby's death, Doll became quieter but her vivacity was not quenched. On her own, she continued to take the children to the beach every summer, though her alabaster skin would always burn to a bright and painful pink, and never tan even a little. Her habits of arranging adventures for children continued with her grandchildren, exploring Halloween campgrounds, historical villages, water parks, etc., until they were grown.
Doll also traveled with Jack, friends and occasionally on her own. She visited Vegas and Atlantic City (though she did not gamble). She visited her youngest daughter more than once in Hawaii and Paris. She cruised the Caribbean and Alaska. She vacationed several times in Mexico.
Doll Hiner was a loving mother, a wonderful wife, a good friend, and a nurturing help to many people. She was kind and encouraging, stern and sobering on occasion, and always loved. She was strong. She will be sadly missed.
Doll was preceded in death by her husband Jack, her youngest son, Jay, and her granddaughter, Niki; by her mother and father, James and Catherine, her brothers and sisters: Huck, Jack, George, Dick, Kitty, Margret, Bea, Ellen, Loretta, and Libby. She is survived by her children, John, Michele, Rob, and Kim, by her brother Butch, her sister-in-law Marlene, her niece Karen, and by many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and loving friends.
A public viewing for Doll will be held at 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday 5 August 2019 at Krienen-Griffith Funeral Home on 6th Street, New Castle. The viewing will include a prayer service and commemoration beginning at 7:00 pm.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11:00 am on Tuesday 6 August 2019 at Holy Spirit Church, 12 Winder Road, New Castle, Delaware. Interment will follow at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, Delaware.