Elaine Sue Hillan

Born in Dayton Ohio as the only child to Carol (Powell) and Vincent Black on December 11, 1942 Elaine started a long and incredible life. She would always share amazing stories of growing up, both the good and bad. But it wasn't until she met the love of her life and future husband, Bill Hillan, did the real fun began. From their second date sledding down the Far Hills golf course and almost being ran over by Bill's best friend, to the birth of their children, Aaron Matthew and Jason Andrew, including their move to Aiken SC.; Elaine and Bill would always be close to each other and seeking adventure. Maybe working at TWA while pregnant pushed her down the path of the love of Travel

She was never afraid to be one of the boys with her kids; supporting their sports, musical endeavors and producing 2 Eagle Scouts. Enjoying their family biennial camping trips across the US, she would hop in a VW Rabbit with a car top carrier or a minivan, just to make sure that the U.S. was explored completely. Hotels were never a thought and she & the kids enjoyed it all. From waking up with Bison dung by the tent or having bears gleaming eyes looking back at night, she never complained, and was more ecstatic about the adventure. She continued to love traveling with her husband across 6 continents (and we are sure she would have touched the 7th if it was part of a Viking Excursion). Even after getting caught in the Egypt revolution in 2011 didn’t slow down her desire to explore new places. A safari trip to South Africa was so much fun, she made sure her sons were able to share the adventure. After exploring 62 Countries and visiting the 50 U.S. States, even getting into most of Canada, no matter where she went new friends would be found along the way. Something she has passed down to the next two generations.

Her friends and ever growing family in both Dayton and Aiken came from the two Methodist Churches she attended, her Beta Sigma Phi Sorority (Gamma) Sisters of over 60 years, The Women of Aiken & the Aiken Red Hat Group, Group of 8, Carolina Squares square dance group, Town & Country square dancers, to working at the Kettering Fairmont Library with Linda Harris & Jeff Clause. Elaine made sure everyone was included as Family, from Charlie Brisch to Betty Kemper in Ohio, and includes another grandchild from her former Pastor Nancy Reed named Addie (she never missed a trip or a family meal). She enrolled her family into the YFU (Youth For Understanding) group and raised kids internationally: Niles Rasmusson from Sweden, Claudia Wunschmann from Germany and then sponsoring Norma Gonzalez, future wife of Aaron, from Mexico. The family kept growing to include Thompson Gbatu from Liberia, who was attending Wright State University. Others who joined in her excursions became family too, and that is far too many to mention

Two more pride and joys came from her eldest son Aaron in the form of grandkids, Daniella Carolynn and Amanda Grace, both of and in Texas. She made sure that the love of adventure was passed along by taking family trips to “Dude Ranches” in Texas and California, adventures at Disneyland, and encompassed making sure Thanksgiving & Christmas was a family matter in Nashville or Uhland TX or Aiken. The adventure continued with a trip through Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls, up to Michigan. But even small adventures followed, like to Zip lining, and making sure they saw the Atlanta Aquarium

Elaine Hillan will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

The family will receive friends on Monday, May 2 from 2-3 pm at St John’s Methodist Church 104 Newberry Street, NW Aiken, SC for visitation. Funeral services will be held following the visitation at 3pm. A visitation will also be held at Tobias Funeral Home Far Hills location on Thursday, May 5th at 12pm and Graveside services will be held at 3:30 pm at Centerville Cemetery in Centerville, Ohio followed by Marion’s Pizza in Centerville. In Lieu of flowers please make donations to National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd Street New York, NY 10016 s