Joan F. Hiltz

CHELSEA -- Joan F. Hiltz, 76, of Chelsea, and Ocala, Fla., passed away April 25, 2011, after a long illness. Joan was born Dec. 10, 1934, to Harvey and Harriett (Ketchum) Mason in Gardiner. Joan "Joby" attended local Gardiner schools and graduated from Gardiner High School.

On July 26, 1954, she married Manly "Pat, Red" Hiltz of Chelsea.

Joan worked at many local businesses and became an exceptional hand sewer of leather shoes at Gardiner Shoe and Taylor Shoe in Augusta and other local factories. Later, she worked for Depositors Trust Co. and Key Services in Augusta, retiring after 20-plus years.

Joan also started her own business "Joan's Redemption" at her home in Chelsea, which she ran for five years. She retired to Ocala for the winters, where the phone was often answered by Dad as "Joby's Place."

She is survived by her husband, Manly, who lovingly referred to her as "The Bride." She is also survived by four children, Manly Hiltz Jr. and wife Wendy, Jill Labbe and husband Jim, and Susan Massey Theriault, all of Chelsea, and William Hiltz and wife Jayne of Tennessee. She is also survived by grandchildren Jim Labbe Jr. (fiancée Whitney Spicer) of Augusta, Jasmine (Jason) Dupont, Nick Kelley and Stasha Massey, all of Chelsea -- Stasha also was "Grammy's special nurse maid" these last few months -- Jess Labbe of West Gardiner, Charity (David) Clagg of North Carolina, Jeremy (Suzanne) Hiltz of Portland and Jonathan (Amber) Hiltz of Missouri; her great-grandchildren Zechariah, Jonah and Sampson Hiltz, Azariah and Silas Hiltz. Gabriella Kelley and recent addition Nicholas Carr. To them she was always just "Gram."

Joan is also survived by her brothers and sisters, Doris (Ken) Jowdry of Eustis, and Ocala, Harvey (Juanita) Mason of Chelsea and Ocala, Gilbert (Betty) Mason of Ocala, Rose Scribner of Indian Island, Howard (Annette) Mason of Augusta, Brenda (Ted) Bonsant of Windsor, and Nancy (Philip) Godbout of Farmingdale; sisters-in-law Sharon Mason and Linda Mason. She will also be fondly remembered as "Aunt Joby" by many nieces and nephews.

Joan was previously deceased by brothers Dwayne and Brian Mason; and sisters Phyllis Nicola and Beulah Williams. Also her new born great-granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Labbe.

Joan was involved in local chapters of the Chelsea Senior Citizens, Chelsea Grange and attended Windsor Memorial Baptist Church, where she had many friends. She also greatly enjoyed the outdoors with hobbies including, gardening, camping, traveling, fishing, deer hunting and especially moose hunting which she did well into her 70s. She instilled a love of the outdoors in her children and grandchildren. She was a proud member of the Penobscot Indian Nation and an avid Red Sox fan.

Mom "Gram" was a spirited, loving, and full of life sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend who will be greatly missed by many.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, April 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner, where a funeral service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in the Searles Mills Cemetery, Chelsea.