BARBARA H. HILLS (1926-2023), Loving Mother, Artist, and Animal Lover

Barbara H. Hills, a loving mother and wife, and a longtime Massachusetts resident, peacefully passed away on May 29, 2023 at the age of 96.

Barbara was born on November 17, 1926 in Peoria, Illinois to Olga Hitchcock and W. Frank Hitchcock. Her family moved to Buffalo, New York when she was five. Following high school, she attended the University of Michigan, where she received her Bachelor's in Psychology. There she met her husband Robert who was getting his Master's in Physics. They married following her graduation, then moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts so he could pursue a doctorate at Harvard. She worked as a research assistant in the psychology department at Tufts where she would later earn her Master's degree.

Barbara then worked at Harvard's Russian Research Center and the MIT Center For International Studies helping "displaced persons" become integrated into American society.

After moving to Lexington, she became a mother to Robert, Katherine, and Stephen. She then shifted her focus to volunteer activities including being a Brownie and Scout leader, a member of the PTA, a library volunteer in the children's section, Lexington Arts & Crafts Society, and most prominently, a board member of the Boston Children's Service Association, a role through which she was deeply involved in forming public policy to protect and provide services for vulnerable young people. The Hills were also a METCO Host Family.

Other volunteer roles important to Barbara included serving on the Lexington Fair Housing committee, as a member of the League of Women Voters, and numerous positions at the First Parish Church in Lexington, helping them become a "Welcoming Congregation".

A huge fan of the performing arts, especially theater, Barbara was a prolific artist across multiple media, including sketching, painting, and watercolors. She studied at the Albright Art Institute in Buffalo, Cambridge Adult Education Center, deCordova Museum, and various artist workshops. She was made a "Distinguished Artist" at the Concord Art Association and was an active member of the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society. She held numerous exhibitions of her paintings.

She was an avid cat lover, and her family's house in Lexington continuously enjoyed feline companionship throughout the years.

After moving to Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford in 2010, Barbara was actively involved with the Knit Wits and the Art Studio there. She attended lectures and enjoyed going on trips to museums, theater performances, and other social excursions.

She will be remembered for her generosity and warm, caring nature.

Barbara is survived by her three children, Katherine McGuire, Robert H. Hills, and Stephen Hills; her sister, Mary Rochester; her granddaughter, Alison Mcgurie and grandson, Brian McInnis; and her great-granddaughter, Lucy McInnis.

Barbara worshiped at the First Parish Church of Lexington, where her Celebration Of Life will be held on Saturday, June 17th at 2 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Carleton-Willard Village, First Parish Lexington, Mass Audubon, or the Cornell Feline Health Center.