Sharon Marie Hillyard

Sharon Marie Hillyard, 80, of Peru passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Manor Court of Peru. 

Funeral services will be 7:00 PM Wednesday, April 1, at the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with Rev. Ronald Margherio OSB officiating.  Visitation will be in the Hurst Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4 to 7:00PM. Cremation rites will follow the service.

Sharon was born on March 23, 1946, in Springfield, IL to Gustave and Betty Jane (Turner) Pietsch. Two weeks after graduating high school, Sharon married her high school sweetheart Eugene “Butch” Pape in Springfield on June 13, 1964. They built a beautiful life after relocating to the Illinois Valley until Butch lost his battle with diabetes in 1994. On July 27, 2001, Sharon married her second husband Joseph Hillyard. Sharon and Joe traveled and enjoyed retirement. 

Sharon worked for Hobbs in Spring Valley before caring for her husband. Following his passing, she reinvented herself with a career at LK-CS that she was so proud of until retirement. 

Sharon was very active in the community. She dedicated her spare time to many organizations including Cherry Mother’s Club, Girl Scouts, St. Bede Mother’s Club, 10/33 Ambulance,and serving as a representative with the UAW. She was most proud of her time volunteering for Cops 4 Cancer. She was an avid reader of novels and newspapers, she enjoyed attending local sporting events and activities for her grandchildren. Sharon loved watching ice skating, gymnastics, and the Bears. Fishing trips, travel, and gambling outings were true highlights. Most of all, she loved any time with her family and friends. No one was a stranger to Sharon. For almost three years, she called the Memory Care Lane at Manor Court her home. She found a whole new chosen family there and grew very close to a long list of amazing caregivers who helped to make her life special. 

She is survived by two daughters: Suzette (Larry) Weide of Peru and Betty (Mike) Glynn of Peru. Her three grandchildren: Justin (Courtney) Weide of Peru, Jared Weide of Peru, and Brandon Glynn of Chicago. One great grandchild: Hudson Weide. Her sister-in-law, Florence Johnson of Normal.

She is preceded in death by: her parents, her husbands Eugene (1994) and Joseph (2013), granddaughter Ashley Glynn (1996), and great grandchild Gavin Weide (2016).

Memorials may be made to Cops 4 Cancer.

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