Esther Marie Hill

Esther Marie (Diekhoff) Hill, 84, of Russiaville, passed away May 11, 2023 at Primrose Retirement Community in Kokomo. She was surrounded by her loving family and husband, Edmund J. Hill, at the time of her passing. She was born December 7, 1938 in Jennings County, Indiana to Joseph B. and Lenora R. (Zapfe) Diekhoff, and graduated from North Vernon High School.

She is survived by her husband Edmund, their children, David (Tonya) Hill, Russiaville, Rita (John) Fearnow, Kokomo, Sandy Rice, Kokomo, Teresa (Tom) Smith, Russiaville, Brenda (Tim) Bargerhuff, Russiaville, Donna (Dan) Shipp, Russiaville, and Jim (Penny) Hill, Kokomo, as well as their 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Esther was a homemaker and devoted wife and mother, raising 7 children with her husband, Edmund. They were married on April 15, 1959 and had recently celebrated their 64th anniversary. She was a devout member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Kokomo and enjoyed gardening, camping, reading, listening to classic country music, and dancing along. Those who knew Esther knew her family was her greatest joy and loved any chance for them to be together.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Lenora, siblings Francis Diekhoff of Westport, Alfred Diekhoff of Westport, Bernard Diekhoff of Westport, Walter Diekhoff (in infancy), Rose Ann Schwering of Westport, and Helen Kramer of Greensburg, and grandchild Ashley Shutt of Kokomo.

Viewing will be May 19, 2023 from 9:30am-12pm at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, located at 3155 S. 200 W., Kokomo, IN. A funeral Mass will be held at noon with burial to follow at New London Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts in Esther’s name be made to the Dementia Society of America by mail to P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or online at www.DementiaSociety.org/donate .