Leola Mildred Hibbard, 99, of Kankakee, IL, formerly of Moweaqua, IL., passed

away early Saturday morning (April 20) at Merkle Knipprath Home in Clifton, IL.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in First Christian Church, Moweaqua, with Pastor Ryan Baker officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Burial will be in Westside Cemetery, Moweaqua.  Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army or Moweaqua Tree Park.

Leola was born on September 23, 1919 in Moweaqua.  She was the daughter of Walter Hibbard and Elizabeth (Birley) Hibbard.

After graduating from High School, Leola worked as a caregiver for her nephew while living with her aunt in Chicago, IL.  Then she returned to Moweaqua and became an employee of the United States Armament manufacturing plant in Illiopolis, IL.  She worked there throughout World War II.

After the war, she began a long standing, devoted employment for Dr. K. L. Pistorius and his family as housekeeper in Moweaqua, IL.  She worked with the Pistorius Family for 50 years.

In the fall of 2011, Leola moved to Heritage Village in Kankakee, IL. to be near her friend and guardian, Rosemary Pistorius.

She is survived by her brother John Russell Hibbard (Pat), her nieces Debbie Stivers, Denise Colvin, Dana Wheeler and Diane Stivers, and her nephews Mike Hibbard and Joe Hibbard.

Leola was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joseph Benjamin, James W., and her nephew Gregg Hibbard.