Mary Mildred (Hildreth) Elstone

Mary Mildred Hildreth Elstone, 86, died peacefully Friday night at The Historic Villages at Silvercrest in New Albany, Indiana. Mrs. Elstone, known as Mildred to her family and friends, had been a resident at Silvercrest since 2016, moving there from her long-time home in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, when her health began to decline. She was born May 11, 1931, in Louisville, the daughter of the late Sherman and Agnes Ratcliff Hildreth. She was proud of her roots in the Portland community, where she lived until her family moved to Floyds Knobs in 1973. She married Raymond Edward Elstone on August 6, 1949, and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in October 2014. She also was preceded in death by sisters Vanita Rose Hildreth Brock and Patricia Hildreth England and brothers Sherman Hildreth and John Hildreth. Surviving are her daughter, Rose Marie Elstone Himmelreich, who lives in Powder Springs, Georgia, with her husband, Ronald Ray Himmelreich, and their sons, Jacob Ray Himmelreich and Andrew John Himmelreich; and her son, Douglas Edward Elstone, who lives in New Albany with his husband, Wickliffe Russell Powell. Also surviving are a brother, James Hildreth, who lives in Louisville with his wife, Phyllis Hildreth; a sister, Edna Hildreth Hall, who lives in Charleston, South Carolina; and a flock of nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. Mrs. Elstone’s life was marked by her love for her immediate and extended families and for her friends, her gentle disposition, and her strong Roman Catholic faith. Her family very much appreciates the kind, excellent care she received at Silvercrest and, in the days preceding her death, from the staff of Southern Care Hospice of Indiana. The family will receive friends at Kraft Funeral Service at 708 East Spring Street in New Albany from 3 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27. Mrs. Elstone was a long-time member of St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church, where a funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in the chapel at 5719 Saint Marys Road in Floyds Knobs. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery at 1600 Newburg Road in Louisville. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers friends make contributions to St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic School at 3033 Martin Road, Floyds Knobs, Indiana 47119. Online condolences to: www.kraftfuneralservice.net.