Marcella P. Hilton's Obituary
Marcella Pauline (Adams) Hilton co-winner of the prestigious Benjamin M. Spock award died peacefully in her sleep, Sunday, July 17, 2011. She and fellow co-winner, Edwin Gewin Hilton (deceased) her husband of 64 years received the award after four decades of successful child rearing that educated and humanized their eight "only" children and pushed them out of the nest into careers, marriages and families of their own.
During Marcella's four decades of child rearing, she lived by the motto, if it needs to be done, do it and if you make a mistake, the results will be better since they will be unexpected. She held to this motto whether she was painting a ceiling, pushing a sewing machine up the steps, sewing a party dress, making dinner or cutting bangs. She could wake up without an alarm clock, get everyone out to work, school and appointments on time (although Sharon was always a challenge), make eight pumpkin pies before the cat could wink an eye, ensure no potatoes were growing behind the ears, ignore the unimportant squabbles and intervene in the serious ones when necessary. She managed her household with fairness and humor. It was done without ever taking a sick day. She could find the good in people and could see both sides to an issue. She got her driver's license when her older children were teenagers and found a sense of freedom in being able to go out on her own. Her lack of navigational skills can not be overestimated. In her new found freedom, she made many forays to shopping centers near and far. She always managed to find her way home, but often by new and devious ways. For some reason Selfridge Air Force base always managed to get in her way, when coming home to Algonac from the shopping malls in the Detroit area. Upon returning from those forays, there was always a little trepidation on the part of Gewin regarding what fruits she would be bearing: a cherub lamp, a truck full of windows, three couches, a concrete bird bath, 2000 saplings? He knew those forays would result in ingenuity and time on his part to put everything to use. As her children grew she enjoyed a multitude of activities. She and Gewin bought a series of motor homes and traveled the country side, enjoying the scenery and new experiences. She became involved in ceramics, learning to paint and fire her pieces. She became a sleuth in her genealogical discoveries of her family's history. She was not a religious person, but was interested in religion. During her later years there were many discussions on religious issues. Due to her strict upbringing, when she became an adult, she never wanted to be told what to do, she always wanted a choice. Although the jury is still out on those Pearly Gates, if they exist and St. Peter is manning it, our advice to St. Peter, give Marcella a choice. Please don’t say “Come in Marcella.” Say instead, “Won’t you come in Marcella?”, or you’re going to have some impatient people waiting in the line behind her. Marcella was born June 27, 1917 in Detroit, MI. She was the fifth of ten children born to Leona Edna Carnes and Herbert Latham Adams. She spent her early years in Detroit, MI and her childrearing years in Fraser and Algonac, MI. Upon Gewin's retirement, they moved to Port Charlotte, Fl and then moved back to St. Clair, MI where she has resided for the past nine years. She is survived by her eight children: Donald (Liz) Hilton, Donna (Mel) Hoover, Trisha (Ron) Norman, Carol (George) Weyhing, Sharon Hilton, Barbara (Salim) Siddiqui, Wendy (Greg) Poole, and Bruce (Vanessa) Hilton, her three siblings: John Adams, June Degriselles and Blossom Kecskes, 22 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, nine great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. For those who wish to pay their respects, viewing will be held at Young Funeral Home, 4061 St. Clair Highway, St. Clair, MI on Thursday, July 21 from 2 - 4 PM and 6 - 9 PM. Private funeral services will be held Friday, July 22. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Diabetes Association or St. Johns Providence Hospice.
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