Cora Hillebrand

CROSS PLAINS-Cora Theresa (Dresen) Hillebrand, age 88, died on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Heartland Country Village in Black Earth. For her final journey she was surrounded by her family and by a gentle and caring guide in the person of Sister John Rose Acker. Cora was born March 16, 1920 in the Town of Berry, Dane County, the daughter of Jacob Dresen and Ann Kunigunda Statz Dresen. She grew up on the Dresen home farm in the Town of Berry along with two sisters and six brothers. She attended St. Martins Catholic Church in Martinsville along with her family and went to the Martinsville Catholic School. Over the July 4th weekend in 1936 she met a young man at the Cross Plains celebration by the name of Jerome Hillebrand. Jerome was from Cross Plains but, at that time was in the CCC Program near Fairchild. On May 23, 1939 she was united in marriage to Jerome Charles Hillebrand. To this marriage was born six children; Diana (Bernard) Long, Waunakee, James (Verna) Hillebrand, Cross Plains, Judy (Kenneth, deceased) Sveum, Madison, Ronald Hillebrand (died Jan. 22, 1943, age 4); Kenneth (Janice ) Hillebrand, Cross Plains, Randall (Annette) Hillebrand, Kiev, Ukraine. Cora is survived by five of her children, Diana, James, Judy, Kenneth and Randall and by her husband, Jerome Hillebrand. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Valeria Dresen (Ray) and Helen Dresen (George). Also surviving are 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a 4 year old son, Ronald, by her parents, Jacob and Anna Dresen; by three sisters, Adeline Esser in 1982 and her husband, Hank Esser in 1994; Margaret Drea in 1990 and her husband Francis Drea in 1987; and Dora Dresen as an infant in 1924, by six brothers, John Dresen in 1981 and his wife Amelia in 2000; Adam Dresen in 1992 and his wife, Marie in 1999. Norbert Dresen in 1981 and his wife, Coletta in 1998; George Dresen in 1994; Jacob Dresen killed in action in New Guinea on January 15, 1943 in World War II, Ray Dresen in 2008 and by one granddaughter, Sherri Long Buhler in 1998 and one son-in-law, Kenneth Svuem who died in 2001. Cora will be missed and fondly remembered by all who loved her and knew her. The family would like to thank Heartland Country Village for the loving, efficient care given to Cora since August 2004. Heartfelt thanks go to Sister John Rose and Father Thomas Kelley for spiritual care and loving guidance during Coras final days. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2947 Thinnes Street, Cross Plains at 10:30 AM on Thursday, February 26, 2009 with Father Thomas Kelley presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call at the church from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 and also on Thursday from 9:30 AM until the time of the service.