Kathryn Zafras Hillery

Kathryn Hillery, 90, of Mount Pleasant, S C, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 6, 2015. Born January 3, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, daughter of the late James and Evstathia (Esther ) Zafras, she is survived by her children, James Hillery III, Marie Hillery (Robert Bettendorf), J Hillery Meier (Jeff Meier), Jennifer Hillery Doyle (Daniel Doyle) and John Hillery. Grandchildren: Stevie Meier, Brittany Meier Estes (Nick Estes), Alex Meier, Erin Doyle, Haley Doyle and her sister Angie Adrian, along with many loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by James F. Hillery II, beloved daughter , Kathleen P. Hillery, and sisters Diane Edgecomb and Mary Freestone.
Kathryn resided at Sweet Grass Village Senior Living the past four years. Previously living in St. Augustine, Florida, since 1986, she worked for ITT as VP of Real Estate Sales and Development. She retired in 2000. Before that, her home for over 30 years was Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Kathryn built and managed a multi-million dollar company, marketing resorts throughout the US and abroad. She began her real estate career in 1967 selling Florida properties. Kay possessed a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and strong accounting background combined with tough minded discipline and practical creativity surpassed only by her energy and courage. Kay simply thought herself as a "human engineer" believing that the foundation of her success was raising 6 children. In 1953, she moved with her husband James F. Hillery II to Grand Rapids. The couple met and married in Detroit, where Kay grew up in a closely knit, extended Greek family. Her parents immigrated to the United States making her a first generation American. A loving Mother and Grandmother, her greatest fulfillment was in her devotion to her children, providing the very best for them.
The Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 9, 2015 in the J. HENRY STUHR, INC. MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Entombment will follow in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens. The family will greet friends at the funeral home Thursday, April 9, 2015 from 1:00 PM until the service begins.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Innocents Children's Hospital, Uganda : www.holyinnocentsuganda.com , which was co-founded by Lane Freestone, Kathryn Hillery's nephew.