Felicia Eleanor Hilleary

Felicia Eleanore Hilleary died on April 1. 2022 at home in Lothian, Maryland. She was 90 years old. The cause of death was heart failure. Felica was born on August 25^th, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the only living child of Anthony Zebrowski and his wife Julia Micaluk.  Her Husband was Don T. Hilleary who died in 1976. She is survived by her two daughters Julia Hilleary, Gwenmarie Hilleary and her sons-in-law James Magdich and Gene Fantano. She has 5 grandchildren, Clarissa and Catherina Magdich and Salvatore, Anthony and Theodore Fantano.

Felicia graduated in the class of 1949 from Harrison High School in Chicago and pursued a career in administrative support initially as a court stenographer, and a legal secretary in California where she met and married her husband, Don.

 After several cross country stops, Don’s career as a Scientist for the US Weather Bureau, NOAA and NASA took Felicia to Washington D.C. where she began a 25-year career on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to eight Congressmen and Congresswoman Lenore Sullivan. Her key requirement for a job was an “indoor” parking space.

With her retirement from the Hill, Felicia opened a new door on her life and pursued her love of horses, establishing herself as a breeder of Tar Heel Standardbred horses on her farm in Lothian Maryland.  She bred over 40 horses for harness racing.

Felicia was a long supporter of the VFW, serving as president of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Scott, Johnson, Collins Post 9619 in Morningside, Maryland, as State Auxiliary President and State Honor Guard Captain.  She served as a volunteer in local Red Cross leadership roles most notably with the Red Cross Air Evac Program at Andrews Air Force Base for 52 years.  Felicia also continued her interest in administrative government by serving as a volunteer for the Secretary of State’s Office in Annapolis, Maryland for 20 years. In 2021, Felicia received the Governors’ Volunteer of the Year award for her many accomplishments.

Felicia was never afraid of a challenge and had clear ideas about life which she loved to share.  She was a devoted reader of the Washington Post- first to last page daily and enjoyed gravy and mashed potatoes with any meal!

A memorial celebration is being held in her honor on April 30^th, from 3pm to 5pm at Lee Funeral Home Inc., 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Rd., Clinton, Maryland 20735. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may go to the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org/donate or American Red Cross: PO Box 37839 Boone, IA 50037 in her name.