Catherine Hilken's Obituary
Catherine Marie Hilken, née Cikoch, slipped away peacefully on August 4, at Kaiser Hospital in San Leandro. She lived 100 beautiful years. Catherine was born to a Croatian family in Zeigler, Illinois. During the Great Depression she moved to California where the family took up residence on Kirkham Street, in West Oakland. In 1945, she and Richard Hilken, a native Oaklander, were married at Saint Patrick’s Church. They raised three boys, Richard, Dan, and Charles, first in Oakland and then in Alameda. Catherine worked all her life in a number of occupations and retired from H. C. Capwell’s in 1993. Her sweet voice and sweeter disposition endeared her to many. She was a lifelong member of the Young Ladies Institute. She enjoyed swimming, bingo, cards, travel, but most of all, family and friends. Predeceased by her beloved husband, Catherine is survived by her sons, daughter-in-law Linda, granddaughter Lisa (David), nephew Mike Beers (Carolyn), grandnephew Kyle Beers (Karen), grandniece Robin Beers (Gary), great-grandnephew Dexter Beers, and is remembered lovingly by her goddaughter Laurie Tomlin. The viewing will take place at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, on August 12, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and rosary at 7:00 p.m., in the Chimes Chapel. Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Saint Joseph Basilica in Alameda on August 13, at 11:00 a.m. Following the internment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, there will be a reception at 703 Atlantic Ave in Alameda. Fortitudo et decor indumentum eius.
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