Dolores Enders Hilden, 88, a longtime resident of Ontonagon, died Tuesday, January 22, 2007 at the Aspirus-Ontonagon Long Term Care Facility after a long illness.

For 66 years she was married to John Arnold (Arnie) Hilden of Ontonagon.

She was born Dolores Ann Enders in Wabeno, Wisconsin on June 23, 1919, the youngest child of John Enders and Adeline Harter Enders. She attended Wabeno public schools and graduated from Wabeno High School in 1936. She attended St. Mary's Hospital school of Nursing in Wausau and became a registered nurse in 1940.

For many years she commuted from Wabeno to her nursing position in Antigo.

On November 22, 1941 she was married to John Arnold Hilden of Ontonagon, Michigan in a ceremony at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Wabeno. He survives her along with four children, Mary Ellen (Dan) Chabot of Bonita Springs, Florida; Christine (Bernard) Gregorich of Ontonagon; Thomas (Bonnie) Hilden of Green Bay, Wisconsin and John (Carolyn) Hilden of Marquette, Michigan.

The couple have six grandchildren, Robert (Joy) Gregorich of Green Bay; Kelly (John) Lebert of Marshfield, Wisconsin; Gregory (Sally) Chabot of Bainbridge Island, Washington; Christian (Angela) Chabot of Seattle, Washington; Brett (Dawn) Chabot of Orlando, Florida; and David Hilden of Marquette. There also are seven great-grandchildren, Zachary Gregorich and Allison Gregorich of Greenland, Michigan; Sage and Chelsea Lebert of Marshfield, Wisconsin; Lafayette and Wyatt Chabot of Bainbridge Island, Washington; and Noah Chabot of Seattle, Washington.

Also surviving are a sister, Mary, of Green Bay; and a brother, Jerome, of Laona, Wisconsin. Other survivors include numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Ramona, of Wabeno, and brothers Leo, Joseph, Richard, Lester, Norbert, Harter and John Jay.

Arnie and Dolores met in grade school in Wabeno, where they also were neighbors. In those early years she acquired the nickname of "Doodles." They were married shortly after he was discharged after serving four years in the Navy prior to World War II. During the war he was employed at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California.

After the war they operated a tavern for a short time in Milwaukee and then operated several businesses in Wabeno and Laona, while she continued her nursing duties.

In 1961 they moved to Ontonagon, where Arnie operated a silk-screening business. Dolores worked for a time as a nurse at Ontonagon Memorial Hospital and then in 1967 became the first director of nursing at the then-new Ontonagon Medical Care Facility, the same long-term care facility where she passed away on Jan. 22. She held that supervisory position until she retired in 1981.

Dolores Hilden lived a big life. She was kind and generous and caring, with a big sense of humor. She loved big family parties - pig roasts and barbecues. She had some big talents, especially in baking and cooking, and as a skilled seamstress and quilter. She loved to travel. She doted on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a big part of their lives and reveled in their accomplishments and achievements.

Funeral services were held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Ontonagon on Friday, January 25, 2008 with the Rev. Antony Lukose officiating. Dolores had been a member of the parish for 47 years.

Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Ontonagon in the spring.

The Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon assisted the family.