Adrian Elaine Hill-Hancock

1948 - 2025

ADRIAN ELAINE HILL-HANCOCK
June 21, 1948 - November 1, 2025
Adrian Elaine Hill-Hancock, age 77, of Delta, Colorado passed away Saturday, November 1,2025 at St. Mary's Regional Hospital in Grand Junction. The family is deeply saddened and shocked by her unexpected death. Adrian, or "Adie" to family and friends, was born June 21, 1948 to parents George and Hylda Gean in a Jewish and Greek Orthodox household. She grew up in the West Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of four children. Adrian's dearest childhood memories were of her father, "Papa George," taking her fishing or cooking steak dinners for the two of them, and of her sister Shari, whom she always affectionately referred toas "sister-mom," helping to look after her once both parents had passed away by the time she was in her teens. Throughout Adrian's entire life, Shari always remained her North Star. Adrian's "two greatest achievements," in her own words, were her two adoring sons, Graham and Eric, to whom she was a tirelessly encouraging and unflinchingly dedicated, loving mother. She had always wanted a daughter in addition to her two boys and got her wish by way of a daughter-in-law with Graham's marriage to Tina, a "best friend" to her for more than twenty years. She was always hopeful to also become a grandmother someday, and Eric's marriage to Hong would eventually bring her first granchild, James, into the world. Adrian's most cherished memory was when she and sisters Shari and Rita finally discovered a long-lost, older brother Gilbert, or "Gibby," and were able to meet him and his family for the very first time. While a proud Chicago-grown girl, Adrian always loved the West much like her mother and sister Ritahad, and it was in Colorado that she finally settled. She spent over twenty-five years there cultivating her many passions from rock hounding, metal detecting and antiquing to jewelry-making, ghost hunting, and traveling before eventually meeting and then marrying her loving husband Jeffery. Adrian and Jeffery enjoyed over four exciting, wonderful, happy years together flying in his Cessna airplane, exploring on their side-by-side, camping in their motorhome, or watching movies and spending quiet time talking with one another. From a very young age, Adrian had a tremendous love of art, particularly drawing and painting which she did late into her life. But music, especially rock and roll and Eighties pop, washer favorite. She even sang back up in a friend's band for a short time while in her twenties, and over the next fifty years never turned down a chance to see live music or simply sing along with it around the house. Adrian was not one to shy away from the hard, honest heavy-lifting that life often requires, and her positive and energetic spirit encouraged everyone she met, regularly earning her the title "Mom" to anyone around her young enough to be her child. She always looked forward to spending time with family, catching up with old friends or making new ones, and it was her kind, welcoming, compassionate nature that endeared her to so many. As an animal lover whose light never fell short of even the four-leggers, her household was rarely without at least one very well-loved dog or cat. She cared for and empowered everybody whole-heartedly, unapologetically, with limitless love and never any fear or judgment. Simply put, Adrian inspired everyone around her to feel stronger and do better. And, as a twenty-year breast cancer survivor, she was most fond of reminding all who knew her that "life is too short to be unhappy. Do what you love and do what is right for you. Enjoy life because it could be over at any moment." Adrian's memory will live on through all those she touched, and her spirit will be carried forward as bravely, strongly and brightly as she had lived. No light has been lost and no void has been left behind; her energy shines from everywhere and fills everything now. Adrian is survived and missed by her husband Jeffery Hancock; two sons and daughters-in-law, Graham (Tina) Skaluba and Eric (Phuong Hong Pham) Hill; grandchild, James Hill; two stepchildren, DJ and Marla Hancock; sister, Sharon Gean; nephews, Steve (Joanne) Deutsch, Fred (Martha) Koehler and David (Lisa) Friedson; nieces, Diane (Ray) Koehler Rasmussen, Laurie (Wally)Jones and Lisa Deutsch; and many cousins, grandnephews and grand-nieces. Adrian was predeceased by her parents, George and Hylda Gean; sister, Rita Deutsch; and brother, Gilbert Friedson.
A memorial service for Adrian will be held at a later date.