JANE AQUIN HITTLER
87, of Bay City, died peacefully on December 4, 2021. She was born April 27, 1934 in St. Mary’s of Saginaw to Robert Almaron and Mary Ellen (Lynch) Hunter. This was the city’s first hospital and the place where her mother and aunts got their start as nurses. She and her younger sister MaryJo were raised as twins in Rosebush, MI. They attended grade school at St. Henry Catholic School, and graduated in 1952 from Sacred Heart Academy High School in Mt. Pleasant, MI. They earned their degrees from Mercy College in Detroit in 1956, Jane with a BS in social work. Helping people was her life-long avocation. She married Daniel Lee Hittler August 10, 1957 in Mt. Pleasant.
Jane started her social work career in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. She and Dan were married a year later on August 10, 1957 at her home parish in Mt. Pleasant. They welcomed the first of their nine children the following May. After Dan’s brief stint in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA, they moved to Redford Township, MI until their fifth child was born. In 1963, the couple found larger digs in Lathrup Village, an idyllic planned community on the northwest edge of Detroit.
Jane and Dan were active members of St. Bede Parish, where she managed the altar server program for decades; served as a Cub Scout den mother; was an active member of both St. Bede and University of Detroit High School Mothers’ Clubs; and advised the 8th grade newspaper, which she dubbed, The Plague: It’s Contagious. There was always room at her table for friends and neighbors, and she annually hosted an international Scout or three. With a penchant for the unconventional, she had a paper route in her 40’s and loved to dress in matching outfits at the monthly Supper Club square dance.
For fun, Jane and Dan enjoyed doubles tennis and family picnics at the Village Swim Club every summer and ski trips to Major Mountain in Clare every winter. Jane tolerated Doubles Bridge, preferring the social aspect of the game to the competitive part. Once a summer, they rented cottages on Lake Michigan with “the cottage gang,” a group of college friends who stayed close throughout their entire adult lives.
Jane put her considerable creative talents to work sewing clothes for her kids and herself, embroidering pillows, crocheting afghans during endless carpool runs, making dolls of every variety, quilting, and refinishing reclaimed furniture. One year, she outfitted the entire family with overalls and matching t-shirts, much to their lasting chagrin. Her kids were her greatest joy and accomplishment. She was their guiding light and muse.
When Dan’s work took Jane and their youngest daughters north to Cass City, Jane threw herself into their new community. She was an active member of Our Lady Consolata Parish, St. Pancratius Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. She chaired the annual Fourth of July parade for many years, served on the Boards of the Chamber of Commerce and American Association of University Women, and taught adults and youth to read as head of the Cass City Literacy Program. For these and other acts of service, the community named Jane “Citizen of the Year” in 2003.
Jane and Dan made Cass City their home for 30 years. When the last of their kids left for college, Jane filled the void by hosting regular visitors whom she affectionately referred to as “strays,” including guest musicians performing at the annual Cass City Bach Festival, Rotary international exchange students, itinerant priests, literacy students, and her weekly swimming buddies.
Jane and Dan moved to Caretel Inns of Tri-Cities (now Symphony Tri-Cities) in 2016. Even then, she was compelled to give back, crocheting healing shawls for St. Pancratius parishioners and lap blankets for “the elderly” until shortly before she passed. She loved Nips candies, McDonald’s shakes, building puzzles, and all the “handsome hunks” and “gorgeous babes” in her life. She was feisty, irreverent, and infinitely endearing. She will be dearly missed.
Jane is survived by her nine beloved children and their families: William (Donna Watz) Hittler; Anne (Scott Taylor) Hunter; Joan (Joseph) Hammell; John (Radhika Mohandas) Hittler; Paul Hittler; David (Laura) Hittler; Robert Hittler; Mary (Daniel) Scott; and Karen (Brian) Nicolay. She is the proud grandmother of 25 grandchildren (one deceased) and six great grandchildren (one deceased). She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Daniel Lee Hittler; sister, MaryJo (Hunter) McCall; and her parents Robert Almaron and Mary Ellen (Lynch) Hunter.
Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 17, 2021 in Our Lady Consolata Parish, St. Pancratius Catholic Church, Cass City with Rev. Theo Nnabugo officiating. Interment in Elkland Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Cass City Literacy Council, c/o Rawson Memorial Library. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and photos at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Attendees are kindly asked to wear a mask or other facial covering while inside the church.
Visitation: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, December 17, 2021 in St. Pancratius Catholic Church
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
(989) 872-2195
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jane Aquin Hittler (Hunter), please visit our flower store.
87, of Bay City, died peacefully on December 4, 2021. She was born April 27, 1934 in St. Mary’s of Saginaw to Robert Almaron and Mary Ellen (Lynch) Hunter. This was the city’s first hospital and the place where her mother and aunts got their start as nurses. She and her younger sister MaryJo were raised as twins in Rosebush, MI. They attended grade school at St. Henry Catholic School, and graduated in 1952 from Sacred Heart Academy High School in Mt. Pleasant, MI. They earned their degrees from Mercy College in Detroit in 1956, Jane with a BS in social work. Helping people was her life-long avocation. She married Daniel Lee Hittler August 10, 1957 in Mt. Pleasant.
Jane started her social work career in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. She and Dan were married a year later on August 10, 1957 at her home parish in Mt. Pleasant. They welcomed the first of their nine children the following May. After Dan’s brief stint in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA, they moved to Redford Township, MI until their fifth child was born. In 1963, the couple found larger digs in Lathrup Village, an idyllic planned community on the northwest edge of Detroit.
Jane and Dan were active members of St. Bede Parish, where she managed the altar server program for decades; served as a Cub Scout den mother; was an active member of both St. Bede and University of Detroit High School Mothers’ Clubs; and advised the 8th grade newspaper, which she dubbed, The Plague: It’s Contagious. There was always room at her table for friends and neighbors, and she annually hosted an international Scout or three. With a penchant for the unconventional, she had a paper route in her 40’s and loved to dress in matching outfits at the monthly Supper Club square dance.
For fun, Jane and Dan enjoyed doubles tennis and family picnics at the Village Swim Club every summer and ski trips to Major Mountain in Clare every winter. Jane tolerated Doubles Bridge, preferring the social aspect of the game to the competitive part. Once a summer, they rented cottages on Lake Michigan with “the cottage gang,” a group of college friends who stayed close throughout their entire adult lives.
Jane put her considerable creative talents to work sewing clothes for her kids and herself, embroidering pillows, crocheting afghans during endless carpool runs, making dolls of every variety, quilting, and refinishing reclaimed furniture. One year, she outfitted the entire family with overalls and matching t-shirts, much to their lasting chagrin. Her kids were her greatest joy and accomplishment. She was their guiding light and muse.
When Dan’s work took Jane and their youngest daughters north to Cass City, Jane threw herself into their new community. She was an active member of Our Lady Consolata Parish, St. Pancratius Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. She chaired the annual Fourth of July parade for many years, served on the Boards of the Chamber of Commerce and American Association of University Women, and taught adults and youth to read as head of the Cass City Literacy Program. For these and other acts of service, the community named Jane “Citizen of the Year” in 2003.
Jane and Dan made Cass City their home for 30 years. When the last of their kids left for college, Jane filled the void by hosting regular visitors whom she affectionately referred to as “strays,” including guest musicians performing at the annual Cass City Bach Festival, Rotary international exchange students, itinerant priests, literacy students, and her weekly swimming buddies.
Jane and Dan moved to Caretel Inns of Tri-Cities (now Symphony Tri-Cities) in 2016. Even then, she was compelled to give back, crocheting healing shawls for St. Pancratius parishioners and lap blankets for “the elderly” until shortly before she passed. She loved Nips candies, McDonald’s shakes, building puzzles, and all the “handsome hunks” and “gorgeous babes” in her life. She was feisty, irreverent, and infinitely endearing. She will be dearly missed.
Jane is survived by her nine beloved children and their families: William (Donna Watz) Hittler; Anne (Scott Taylor) Hunter; Joan (Joseph) Hammell; John (Radhika Mohandas) Hittler; Paul Hittler; David (Laura) Hittler; Robert Hittler; Mary (Daniel) Scott; and Karen (Brian) Nicolay. She is the proud grandmother of 25 grandchildren (one deceased) and six great grandchildren (one deceased). She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Daniel Lee Hittler; sister, MaryJo (Hunter) McCall; and her parents Robert Almaron and Mary Ellen (Lynch) Hunter.
Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 17, 2021 in Our Lady Consolata Parish, St. Pancratius Catholic Church, Cass City with Rev. Theo Nnabugo officiating. Interment in Elkland Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Cass City Literacy Council, c/o Rawson Memorial Library. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and photos at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Attendees are kindly asked to wear a mask or other facial covering while inside the church.
Visitation: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, December 17, 2021 in St. Pancratius Catholic Church
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
(989) 872-2195
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