Mildred Marie "Millie" Hawkins

Mildred "Millie" Marie Hawkins, 87, of Avilla, Indiana, passed away at the Laurels of DeKalb Nursing Home in Butler, IN on her birthday, Thursday, November 13, 2025. Millie was born on November 13, 1938, one of 14 children, to Edward and Mary (Critch) Tobin in Gaskiers, St. Mary's Bay, Newfoundland, Canada. She attended her early schooling in St. Mary's and afterward obtained her Licensed Practical Nursing degree in St. John's, Nfld, Canada. She then worked at the Argentia Naval Air Station in Nfld before immigrating to the United States. She married a U.S. Navy seaman and for 16 years endured many trials as a military wife during the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis. After the Vietnam War, she was part of a special committee that greeted returning MIAs at the Great Lakes Naval Air Station in Illinois.

Through military life and after, she lived for brief periods in Virginia, Rhode Island, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina before returning to Indiana. Millie was a tireless and hard worker, having many jobs throughout her life (nurse, factory laborer, waitress, clerk) and did all she could to help her family. In one of her proudest accomplishments, Millie became a United States citizen in 2008, after successfully completing the naturalization process and being sworn in as a U.S. citizen in Fort Wayne, IN. For 20 years she lived peacefully at the LaVerna Independent Living complex in Avilla, IN. She helped with the decorations and activities for many years there and saw her neighbors at LaVerna as family. Millie attended the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Avilla and was a member of the Avilla American Legion, Post #240. She loved music and dancing, especially to her native Newfoundland folk songs, and was known to spontaneously perform an Irish jig when the mood struck. She was a prolific knitter and sewer. Millie also enjoyed quilting, making ceramics, bowling, playing cards, puzzles, and thrift shopping.

Millie was a dedicated mother who consistently provided her unconditional love, support, and grace to her children at every opportunity. Quick-witted and affable, with a well-known sass, she provided laughter and joy despite life's challenges. She was a loving grandparent, sister, aunt, and cousin to many. Surviving are her children, Susan (Daniel) Hembree of Pleasant Gap, PA; John Hawkins and Joseph (Cherie) Hawkins, both of Sebring, FL; and James (Michelle) Hawkins of Rock Hill, SC. Grandchildren include Michael (Leana) Rosin, Tiffany (Nicholas) Basham, Kailyn (Bryan) Cifuentes, Natalie Hawkins (Tom Weldt), Leah Hawkins, Megan Hawkins (Justin Morrison), Justin (Cecilia) Snyder, Taryn Mishler Herron; great-grandchildren, Charles Basham, Samuel Rosin, Fredrick Basham, Benjamin Basham, Opal Hawkins, and Matteo Snyder. Surviving siblings include Sheila Daley of Riverhead, Nfld, Canada; Edward Tobin, of Quebec, Canada; Ann (Johnny) Fleming Tobin of St. Vincent, Nfld, Canada; Leslie Tobin of Medicine Hat, Canada; and Yvonne (Jerome) Fontaine of Trepassey, Nfld, Canada. She also has many nieces, nephews and cousins that live in Newfoundland, mainland Canada, New England, and Ohio.

Preceding Millie in death are her parents Edward and Mary Tobin; her siblings, Catherine, Cyril, Frank, Donald, Kevin, Ida, Ray, and Baby Tobin.

Mass of Christian Burial is 11:00am, Monday, November 24, 2025, at the Chapel of Sacred Heart Nursing Home, 515 N Main St, Avilla, Indiana. Fr. Dave Voors will officiate. Visitation is from 9:00am until time of Mass on Monday, Nov 24, at the nursing home. Burial will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Avilla.

In lieu of flowers, it is asked that contributions in Millie's memory may be directed to the Humane Society of Noble County and/or Lewy Body Dementia Foundation.

To sign the online guestbook or to leave a condolence, visit www.harperfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements in care of Harper Funeral Homes, Avilla Chapel, 530 N Main St., Avilla, IN