Michele Marie Hill

Feb. 27, 1960 –

May 24, 2016

Michele Marie Hill was born on Feb. 27, 1960, to Reta and Chuck Sweeney and three sisters, Roxann, Myrna and Weslene in Renton, Wash. She lived in the Seattle area for a few years but then the family moved up to Oak Harbor, where Michele lived the majority of her days. Oak Harbor was always home and she had no desire to ever leave. Back before the days of Internet dating and Xbox live (Chivaun and Julian), there were CB radios, and that is how Michele met the love of her life, Gary Hill. They were married on Aug. 9, 1979. Even though Gary was in the Navy, Michele and family never had to leave Oak Harbor and she always counted that as a great blessing.

Michele was blessed with three children, Chivaun Penaloza, who married Julian Penaloza; Laurie Hill; and Charlie Hill, who married Lillian Hill (Pekarcik). Michele was also blessed with three grandchildren, Breona Eisner, Torralee Hill and Marek Hill, as well as many dachshund grand dogs. Side-note: Michele wrote in her senior yearbook what she wanted to be when she got older was a mom.

Michele spent many hours and days serving in various callings and assignments in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in primary, young women’s, and many different callings in Relief Society. She was a homemaking leader and RS teacher and held various positions in RS Presidency, teaching zero-period early morning Seminary at 5:30 a.m. She organized many memorable Super Saturdays and home-making nights. As a result of these opportunities to serve, her children had the opportunity to serve right along side her, helping with whatever project she was working on at the time. This instilled in her kids a love of and understanding of the importance of serving our fellow men and what it means to work hard and follow through.

Michele had many passions and talents that she cultivated during her life. Sugar & Spice was a family owned business that led her to a home business called Cakes by Michele. She created many beautiful works of art in the form of wedding cakes, and her kids spent most summer weekends baking, decorating and delivering wedding cakes with their mom. Michele also loved candle making and formed WICK (Whidbey Island Candle Kompany) to sell her beautiful soy and chunky votive candles at local arts and craft festivals. She loved painting and learned oil painting when she was younger and toll painting later with her sister Roxann and best friend Pam Treece. She was also an avid canner and canned most things she could get her hands on, even mushrooms with her friend, Lucy Griffith. That love of canning has been passed on to her kids and their friends, asking Michele for ideas and recipes as they learned canning.

Michele started working at Whidbey General Hospital in Patient Access, which led to other opportunities becoming Manager of Patient Access at Skagit Valley Hospital before being medically retired as Director of Patient Access in February 2016. Her passion for making sure patients were taken care of as soon as they walked into the hospital doors led to many recognitions and awards during her tenure.

She returned home on May 24, 2016, to be with her mom and dad, sister Roxann and nieces Catherine and Julia, son-in-law Julian and best friend, Pam Treece. Michele is survived by her husband, Gary, and daughters Chivaun Penaloza and Laurie Hill; son Charlie Hill with his children, Breona Eisner, Torralee and Marek Hill; sister Myrna and Bob Jensen; sister Weslene and Mike Mulks; brother-in-law Jim Terry; nephew Daniel Clarke; nephew Robert and Becky Jensen and their children Jayson, Katelynne, Emily and Trystan; niece Beth Gerdes and her daughter Valerie; and nephew Billy and Emily Mulks.

Memorial services for Michele were held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She will be laid to rest beside her parents at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Please visit Michele’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home and Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor.