Isam and Olga H. Hilleary

Lifelong Alaskan and Longtime Nikiski resident, Ms. Olga Hilleary, 91, passed Friday, August 23, 2019 at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

A celebration of her life will be held 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, August 31, 2019 at Tyotka’s Elder Center in Old Town Kenai.

Olga was born in Anchorage on Dec. 18, 1927. She was raised in an Episcopal Mission in Nenana until she was 17. She married Isam Hilleary in 1951 and together they raised six children.

In 1963, they moved to Kenai from Anchorage and began homesteading; they commercial fished at East Forelands. Mom was a member of Redoubt Homemaker and The Elks Club. She was one of the original board members of the Salamatof Native Corporation as well as a shareholder with CIRI.

She loved sewing, and her children were recipients of her sewing skills. She liked berry picking, canning, moose hunting, reading, being on the beach at the fish camp, traveling, spending time out at the cabin, picnics, sightseeing, and anything that involved her family… oh, and drinking coffee!

She created many happy memories for her family, especially at the holiday.

After her husband passed, she got a dog who she lovingly named Barkley and he was her faithful companion for many years.

The family wrote, “We will miss you dearly Mom and your beautiful smile. Taking rides with you, talking, laughing and joking around. You were such a good sport! Love you Mom.”
She was preceded in death by her husband, Isam Hilleary and son Russell Hilleary.

She is survived by her children; Richard and Janet Hilleary, Ronald Hilleary, Pat Hilleary, Jeannie Smith, Pamela and Dennis Moelgein and Debra and Chris Little; 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. 

Lifelong Kenai resident Isam Hilleary, 73, died Jan. 19, 1993 at his home in Nikiski. A visitation was at Peninsula Memorial Chapel, with a service by the Rev. Scott Moss. There was a funeral service at the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church in Kenai. The Rev. Paul Marculief officiated. Burial followed the service at the family homestead in Nikiski.

Mr. Hilleary was born in Kenai on July 24, 1919. He was a longtime commercial fisherman, retired longshoreman and member of the International Boatmans Union. A veteran of the Army, he served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. A charter member of the Kenai Elks Lodge #2425, Mr. Hilleary enjoyed hunting and fishing with his wife and children. His family said, "He was a devoted father and family man whose interests and activities were always centered on the care and nurturing of his family."

Mr. Hilleary is survived by his wife, Olga of Nikiski, his sons, Richard, Ronald and Russel, all of Nikiski; his daughters, Jeannie Smith and Debra Little, both of Nikiski, and Pamela Moeglein of Soldotna; his cousins, Alfred and Andrew Wik; and 12 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to The Hospice of the Central Peninsula, Box 5014, Kenai 99611, or to the American Heart Association, 2330 E. 42nd Ave., Anchorage 99508.

Courtesy of the Anchorage Daily News January 21, 1993