2/23/2013
Elaine McGee Hill, age 78, formerly of Lancaster, Indiana and Wellsboro, PA, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 after a lengthy illness at Moravian Manor, Lititz PA. Born on a farm in Indiana County PA, she was the daughter of the late Milton and Ethel (Carr) McGee. She graduated from Marion Center Joint High School in 1952, where she met her future husband, David William Hill. Being a member of the school band and needing a date for their picnic, she took the initiative and asked Dave on their first date explaining that “he was a nice-looking farm boy”. They were a couple ever since that day and were engaged after Dave sold one of his pigs for $50.00 to purchase an engagement ring. They married on June 9, 1957 and celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in 2012. Elaine formerly worked for Bell Telephone as an operator in Indiana, PA. After giving birth to the first of their three girls, she became a stay-at-home mom. Elaine was often relied upon to help with last-minute midnight school projects (never receiving a grade herself), to sew various historical costumes for book report presentations (also not receiving a grade), and to rescue her daughters when the often-forgotten gym suit would be realized. After her girls were grown, she joined the workforce taking a job with Hallmark cards. Elaine was a member of Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers, for over 40 years, serving on the Consistory as both a deacon and an elder; as a member of the Church Belles; and various other volunteer positions. Elaine was the proud owner of arguably Pennsylvania’s largest collection of cat tchotchkes, feline stuffed animals, cat sweatshirts, t-shirts and cat pillows, and anything else created that had a cat on it. Elaine had a wonderful dry wit; never met a stranger; always had an upbeat attitude and rarely ever worried. After surviving breast cancer in 1990, she was diagnosed in 2003 with inoperable pancreatic cancer and told that she had less than six months to live. Her invaluable friend, Lorraine Latschar R.N., implored Elaine to go to Johns Hopkins Hospital to see a premier pancreatic cancer surgeon, Dr. Cameron. He informed her that he could, indeed, perform abdominal surgery. When she awoke from the anesthesia, in classic Elaine humor, she asked Dr. Cameron, “Was it a girl or a boy?” Elaine was then informed that she was actually misdiagnosed; having duodenal cancer, a much less nocuous form of small intestine cancer. Elaine will be lovingly remember by her husband, David, also of Moravian Manor; her three daughters, Sharon Hill of Wallingford, PA; Lisa (Hill) Cammarata, wife of Steve, York, PA; and Lori Hill, fiancée of John Robinette, Takoma Park, MD; two grandchildren, Alex and Amanda Weidman; four step-grandchildren, Adam and Bryan Robinette, Anthony Cammarata, Tara (Cammarata) Pollack, wife of Steve; her sister, Shirley (McGee) Wright, Baltimore, MD; brother, Keith McGee, husband of Jean, Willingboro, NJ. She was predeceased by two brothers, Ivan McGee and Robert McGee. Also former feline pets Babe, Fuzzer, Muzzer, et al have been waiting to sit on her lap in Heaven. The family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring nurses and therapists at Moravian Manor. Memorial contributions are welcomed to: the Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers, 2555 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster PA 17601 or to Furever Home Adoptions, 5984 Main Street, East Petersburg PA 17520. The funeral will be Saturday, Mar. 2, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers, 2555 Horseshoe Rd., Lancaster. Interment: the adjoining cemetery. Viewing: Friday, 6-8 p.m. at Furman Home for Funerals, 59 W. Main St., Leola, PA and also Saturday, 10-11 a.m. at Hellers. FurmanFuneralHome.com