Mary Jill Grabinger

My life has been a tapestry Of rich and royal hue

An everlasting vision Of the ever-changing view

— Carole King, Tapestry

Jill (Hitpas) Grabinger, age 74, died at the Wind Crest Mill Vista Lodge memory care facility in Highlands Ranch, Colorado from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia on March 14, 2025. 

Jill was born to Mildred and Joseph Hitpas in Breese, Illinois October 29, 1950. She graduated from the Breese Mater Dei High School in 1968 and went on to Loyola University in Chicago where she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education (January 1972) and met her future husband of 53 years, Scott Grabinger. 

Jill went on to teach second grade at House Spring Elementary outside of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1973, Jill and Scott moved to Peoria, Illinois and taught at Holy Family Elementary while attending classes at Illinois State University. They each earned Master’s degrees in 1975 and went on to teach in Clear Creek Secondary School in Idaho Springs, Colorado; where Jill began a career of teaching special education. During the summer of 1976 Jill attended classes to get a special education teaching certificate while at the same time building a home on Floyd Hill. 

In 1980, they moved to Bloomington, Indiana where Jill taught special education at Bloomington North High School. In 1983 they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where she again taught special education until 1987 when they finally made it back to Colorado. Jill then continued to teach special education and reading at several Douglas County schools including Highlands Ranch High School, Thunder Ridge High School, and Mountain Vista Middle School, retiring in 2014. 

She was an amazing singer. People at Mass would turn around and compliment her on her voice. Jill loved traveling — after conquering jet lag — and had visited several European countries particularly enjoying Italy and France. Before Covid and Lewy Body hit, she was looking forward to more world trotting. At home she enjoyed gardening and yard work and was a voracious reader. Jill and Scott enjoyed hosting dinner parties, especially as “Italian plate meals” — her lasagna and ravioli were legendary. 

Jill was known for her love of family raising two children, Michael (Sarah nee Delva) 47 and Lindsay (Rick Otipoby) 45. She doted on her grandchildren: Addison (13) and Bailey (10) Grabinger, and Luke (11) and Grace (7) Otipoby. Christmas was a time when Jill went all out for the kids with lots of decorations, a 12-foot tree, gifts galore, and special meals. 

In addition to her children and grandchildren, she is survived by her husband Scott, and her brothers Rev. Joe Hitpas, OMI, Gary Hitpas, and Tom Hitpas (Diane). Jill was predeceased by her mother and father, Mildred and Joe Hitpas, her brother Dan Hitpas (2024), and her sister-in-law Donna Hitpas (Gary Hitpas, 2023). 

Funeral services will be at St.Thomas More parish on April 2 at 11:00 am. Refreshments will be served after the Mass. Internment will be for the family at 2:30

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jill's memory to one of the following charities:

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate:https://oblatesusa.org/donate/

Emmaus Catholic Hospice: https://emmauscatholichospice.org/donate/

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