A celebration of life for Marilyn J. Hillman, age 51, of Albert Lea will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Albert Lea Senior High School Auditorium. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2003, at Bayview/ Freeborn Funeral Home.

Marilyn died Thursday, April 3, 2003.

Marilyn Joan Hillman was born Feb. 11, 1952, to Martin Richard (Dick) and Mavis Caroline (Grosland) Nelson in Albert Lea. She was a life-long resident of Albert Lea and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Marilyn graduated from Albert Lea High School and attended Mankato State College, receiving a bachelor of science degree cum laude in elementary education with minors in library science and special education. She continued her education at Mankato State and earned her master of science degree as a media specialist and attended additional graduate classes.

On July 16, 1977, Marilyn was united in marriage to Gary Lee Hillman at Trinity Lutheran Church. Her life revolved around her family and spending time with them. She was wife and mother first but then so much more, a hockey and soccer mom. For those of us who are involved in those sports, we know just how important those moms are. Marilyn loved riding around in her Corvette, boating, her pets, gardening, and the Friday nights at Casa Zamora.

Survivors include her husband, Gary; children: Peter, David, and Laura Hillman; brother, Merlyn and wife Mary Nelson and family: Jenny (Mark) Nelson, Jason and Daniel Nelson, Wendy Carlsen, and Anne (Brian) Egeness; sister, Mary and husband Gary Loewenberg and family: Jeremy (Diane), James (Kara), Jens, Jay and Jon Loewenberg; parents: Martin (Dick) and Mavis Nelson; sister-in-law, Sandy Johnson and family: Melissa (Kenneth) Smith, Matthew (Nicole) Johnson, and Molly Wallin; and many students, former students, friends and relatives.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her daughter, Randee Kim Bogue; grandparents: Oscar and Inah Grosland and J. P. and Minnie Nelson; mother- and fathers-in-law: Delores E. Hillman Eulberg, Robert Hillman, and Don Eulberg.