Eleanor (Ellie) Cranston Hileman died on February 14, 2025, at age 88. She was born in 1937 in Wilmington, Delaware, the youngest daughter of the late Elizabeth Leib Cranston and John Paul Cranston. She was a loving mother to her good son, Christopher C. Hileman and the beloved wife of John R. Hileman.
Ellie attended elementary school and junior high at A.I. DuPont, graduated from high school at Wilmington Friends School, earned a degree in marketing at Lasell College in Auburndale, MA, and married at age 22 in a relationship that lasted until her death.
In her early married years, she chaired several committees for the Wilmington Flower Market and served on the Board of Directors. Later, she started a profitable catering business for chateau country customers, but after a couple years, closed the business after deciding it was more work than it was worth. She then began a long (over 30 years) stint as a volunteer at Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research where she served on the Board of Directors, fed baby birds, rescued hurt birds, and travelled as a member of the oil spill team (to wash and rejuvenate birds that had been coated with oil from tanker spills). In addition, for decades, she managed an annual “Jumble Sale” for the benefit of Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research.
Ellie was a highly ethical and strongly opinionated woman — an avid reader of nonfiction. She was a staunch environmentalist and lover of animals: she maintained a deer feeding station in the front yard, had bird feeders and bird baths in the back. Over the years, our numerous family dogs benefited from her tender care and all were most loyal to her.
Her favorite sports were tennis and cross country skiing; she made many, good friends from these activities.
She was predeceased by her parents, a sister (Martha Shelley Cranston Morris) and a half-sister (Jean Cranston Hodupp). She is survived by her husband (John R. Hileman), her son (Christopher Cranston Hileman) and his wife (Cynthia-Dorice Hileman), and her two grandsons (Aidan John Hileman and Zachary Cranston Hileman). Also, she is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Cranston Baxter and five nieces: Marie Shelley Radebaugh, Elizabeth Cranston Butcher, Ann Hodupp DeCicco, Claire Hodupp Irving, and Shelley Hodupp Alden.
To meet Ellie’s wishes, there will be no funeral and the burial at Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, 110 Old Possum Hollow Road, Newark, DE.
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