Elizabeth Romaine ’46 Hillegonds

Elizabeth Romaine ’46 Hillegonds passed away peacefully with her family and Holland Hospice at her side on Oct. 10, 2016, after a long and blessed life. She is survived by her grateful sons and their families, Paul and wife Nancy (Phillips), Timothy ’72 and wife Lynn ’72 (Klaasen); grandchildren, Sarah and husband Jeff Beauregard, Michael Hillegonds, Rachel ’99 and husband Michael Myers, Rebecca ’05 and husband Justin Stellema, Thomas Hillegonds ’02; great grandchildren, Isaac, Luke, Paul, Everett, Zachary and Benjamin.

Libby was born in 1925 in Hackensack, N.J., to Demarest and Fannie Romaine. She was a graduate of Hope College where she met her late husband of 60 years, the Reverend William C. Hillegonds ’49. Libby was Bill’s caring partner over the course of his ministry, faithfully serving the families of the Hudsonville Congregational Church, reformed churches in Chatham and Rochester, N.Y., Hope Church in Holland, Second Reformed in Pella, Iowa, and First Presbyterian in Ann Arbor. When Bill served as Chaplain at Hope College (1967 to 1978) and as senior minister at First Presbyterian in Ann Arbor (1980 to 1990), Libby’s compassion for disadvantaged children and families nurtured the missions of Higher Horizons in Holland and Friends Indeed in Ypsilanti. In their retirement, Libby and Bill lived at Breton Woods Retirement Home in Grand Rapids. Following Bill’s passing in 2007, Libby returned to Holland and beloved Hope Church and Freedom Village families. Ever thankful for God’s grace and guidance, Libby affirmed and inspired the goodness in others.