Janet Hilgers of Barrington, Illinois

July 24th, 1938 – August 6th, 2024

Janet Hilgers, 86, of Barrington, IL passed away peacefully in her home on Tuesday, August 6th, surrounded by her loving family.

Janet "Jan" Hilgers always had a smile and kind word for everyone she met. She was joyful by nature, and her joy had a way of rubbing off on you, even when you weren't expecting it. She was a loving mother who was always there to offer support, advice, and love in abundance. She also exuded the gift of hospitality and had a way of making people not only feel welcome, but also special. Anyone who entered Jan's home was immediately offered food, drink, and a comfortable place to sit for a chat. There was always a pot of coffee brewing and, thanks to her husband, Dave, a delicious dessert on hand. No one could refuse one of Jan's signature desserts! Jan loved connecting with people, hosting dinner parties, and engaging in good conversation.  She had a passion for creating extraordinary table settings to accompany her delicious meals. Although Jan had many extraordinary talents, her greatest life-long gift was her ability to connect with people. She gave her time graciously to family, friends, and even to strangers, offering advice when needed, or just to share a laugh, a recipe, a bit of gossip, or to make sure everything was okay. She was a bright, brilliant light in this world, and she will be missed. Jan was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. She dreamed big, lived life to the fullest, and loved with her whole heart.

Born July 24th, 1938, in Chicago, IL, to loving parents, Arthur and Jenny Rasmussen, Janet was the oldest of the couple's three children. Jan grew up in Lincolnwood, IL, where she attended Lincolnwood grade school, then moved to Park Ridge, IL, where she attended Maine East High School. After high school, Jan attended the University of Illinois. There she joined the Gamma Phi Beta sorority while pursuing a degree in journalism. However, while attending college, Jan met the love of her life, Dave Hilgers, while on summer break in Park Ridge. According to Jan, it was love at first sight, and she knew then that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Dave. With that goal in mind, Jan finished her second year at U of I, then took a job as a copy writer with Leo Burnett Advertising Agency in Chicago, while Dave finished college. After graduation, Dave enlisted in the Navy. The couple got married on December 27th, 1959, and spent the first magical years of married life at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Great Lakes, IL. Jan and Dave always said that it was the perfect place to start married life.

While at Great Lakes, Randy, the couple's first son was born. After four years of service, the couple chose civilian life and moved to Skokie, IL, where their second child, Darci, was born. The couple had their third child, Ron, while living in Des Plaines, IL. With a growing family, Jan, Dave, and the kids moved to Arlington Heights, IL, where they lived for nine years before finally moving to their forever home in Barrington, IL, in 1976.

Jan was a committed stay-at-home mom and took every opportunity to enrich her children's lives by volunteering at their schools, being the go-to room mother, attending field trips, and even serving as vice president of the PTA. While in Barrington, Jan was a member of the Newcomers Club, the Gourmet Lunch Club, and the Garden Club. She was a creative, fun-loving mother, and adoring wife to Dave. The couple enjoyed extensive travel, adventurous vacations, and were even snowbirds, splitting their time between Barrington and Destin FL. However, there was no place more special or meaningful to Jan and Dave than Door County, WI. During their sixty-two years of marriage, the couple never missed a summer in Door County. They even memorialized their love of Door County by placing a bench on the sixteenth hole of the Peninsula State Park Golf Course that reads: Jan and Dave Hilgers see the extraordinary in every ordinary day. It was a sentiment they truly embraced.

Jan is survived by her son, Randy Hilgers (Diane Tarkowski), daughter, Darci Hannah (John Hannah), grandchildren, Jim Hannah (Allison Hannah), Dan Hannah, Matt Hannah, Dana Hilgers, Jenna Hilgers, and sister, Sandy Cobb. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dave Hilgers, and son, Ron Hilgers.

The Family will host a Celebration of Life memorial in Barrington.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the National Kidney Donation Organization in Jan's name:  https://support.nkdo.org/give/541859/#!/donation/checkout

Or to the Alzheimer's Association: https://www.alz.org/?form=FUNSETYDEFK

Or, to do a random act of kindness to someone in need.

The family thanks you!