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Barbara A. Hillcoat, age 99, of River Forest, Illinois, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026.Barbara was the devoted and caring wife of Edward Charles Hillcoat, whose love and partnership were the foundation of her life. Ed passed away in 1989 after 42 years of marriage. She is survived by her son, Christopher, and his wife, Mary, of River Forest, Illinois, as well as her sister Nancie Gorenc of Marlboro, New Jersey. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Marie Evers of Little Chute, Wisconsin, as well as her brother, Karl Evers of Knoxville, Tennessee.Barbara was born in Little Chute, Wisconsin, in 1927, where she lived until she and Ed married in 1947 after World War II and relocated to Ed’s hometown of Chicago, Illinois. They moved to Washington, D.C. in 1954 and later moved to Bethesda, Maryland. Barbara loved the Washington area, where she developed a large group of friends.After Ed's passing in 1989, Barbara moved from her Bethesda home to a condo in nearby Sumner Village. She became active with the Women's Board of George Washington University Hospital and ran the gift shop for several years, a job she truly loved. She particularly enjoyed working with the other Board members to support the needs and activities of the Hospital. She had many friends and was a regular with Les Girls, a group who frequently got together for lunches. Barbara was an avid reader and a regular at the local libraries. She read everything from novels to how-to books, but her favorites were histories and biographies. When Christopher was young, she was involved in his schools and frequently volunteered at various events. She also was an extraordinary gardener and took great pleasure in her beautiful garden. She maintained an immaculate and well-appointed home and spent much care in decorating.In 2003, Barbara moved to be closer to her son, Christopher, living just outside of Chicago in River Forest. She enjoyed her condo, which was only about a mile from Christopher and Mary. In the Chicago area, she reconnected with many of Ed’s family members,In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Barbara’s memory to the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org/.

Barbara A. Hillcoat

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