Joan “Onnie” (Schillow) Hitner, 95, a resident of Walnut St., Lansdale, Pa., all her life, died at Abington Hospital, Lansdale on December, 28, 2020.
Her parents were Gerhard Schillow and Elizabeth Stritmatter. She had five sisters and one brother: Sister Joan OSF, Katherine Schillow, Dorothy (Cyril) Comfort, William Schillow (Doris). Cecelia Zollo (Felix), and Rita Molnar (Joe). Sister-in-law Marge Righter was her best friend and travel companion. She had many nieces and nephews.
She enjoyed travel, especially to Europe where she enjoyed researching genealogy in old churches.
In 1943, she married Robert Hitner who died fighting for this country in 1945 at Iwo Jima.
During the war, Onnie was a true “Rosie the Riveter” doing her part for the war effort working on plane parts. Following the war, Onnie worked for Bell Telephone, working her way to manager in 1985.
A devout Catholic, Onnie was a life-long member of St. Stanislaus Church, Lansdale.
Joan had an incredible impact on people’s lives. Family and friends will miss her generous spirit, her caring and kindness—always there when you needed her,
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Joan’s Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, January 6, 2020, at 10:30 AM at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 51 Lansdale Ave, Lansdale, PA 19446, where the family will receive friends after 9:30 AM, in Church prior to Mass. She will be interred with her husband Robert, in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a later date. Please be advised that all State Guidelines regarding Covid-19 will be observed.”
Due to her great love of animals, the family asks in lieu of flowers, please consider adopting/fostering or making a donation to Stray Cat Blues, Colmar, Pa. (PO Box 8, Colmar, PA 18915)
Aunt Onnie had the most kind loving heart. She was my Mom’s best friend for over 75 plus years. My brother Bob and I were so fortunate to have her in our lives. She took care of so many people and loved taking care of God’s critters. Will be greatly missed by all. ❤️
Onnie was my great Aunt and my godmother. We talked more often over the past year and I am happy that I was able to talk to her about plans for my mom’s house over recent weeks and how exciting it was that Biden will be president. When I met my husband I had to take him to meet Onnie so I took him to Lansdale and he was approved by all family at the Walnut Street house, especially Onnie. I miss all of them. I wanted so much to take the family pictures that I found in mom’s house to show Onnie and to learn the stories for the pictures but this virus came about while I was finding the pictures and it was too risky. Onnie was always there for everyone. She was there for me my entire life. I loved her calls. I am so glad that I told her I loved her more than once over the recent past months . She lived a strong life and I am so proud to be her family and I will miss her very much.