Sylvia And Leonard Hill

Sylvia Lee Berens Hill and Leonard Eugene Hill

Without the sunset there would be no sunrise.  Without winter there would be no spring.  Without tears there would be no smiles.  Life is full of contradictions and contrast.  Without a goodbye there would be no embrace of hello.

Sylvia was a quiet country girl born to Leroy and Mary Berens June 22, 1934.  She had an older sister Margaret (deceased).  Sylvia grew up at Waterton Canyon, Colorado and attended grades 1-8 in a one room schoolhouse at Kassler.  Leonard was born December 25, 1932 to George and Louise Hill, he was the youngest of three, Doris (deceased) the oldest and George (deceased).  Leonard on the other hand was not the quiet sort.  He spent his time being a boy growing up in Littleton, in what was then a small town.   Shortly after Sylvia started attending high school at Littleton High School, she and Leonard became high school sweethearts.  Following high school graduation Sylvia asked Leonard to get married, yes even then she knew what she wanted and wasn’t about wasting time in going after it.  He said yes and they were married November 3, 1951.  They made their home in Littleton and were on their way to building a life.

Leonard and Sylvia were married 67 years and during those years their life was filled with good days and bad days, times of celebration and times of sorrow.  Leonard and Sylvia have two daughters, Debi and Louise.  They never strayed too far from their childhood home, living in Littleton, Louviers, Castle Rock and the last 47 years in their Denver home.  Leonard went to be with the Lord on April 4, 2020 and Sylvia on June 16, 2021.

Leonard and Sylvia had a dedicated worked ethnic that they instilled on their family.  Leonard worked 19 years for E.I. DuPont and 20+ years at the Denver Water Department where he retired from in 1995.  Sylvia was a stay-at-home mom until both daughters were in school.  She then worked various secretarial jobs and retired from Gates Rubber Company after many years in 1995.

Leonard and Sylvia travelled North America and Europe.  They crisscrossed the country to support their five grandchildren:  Jamie, Sonny, PJ, Joey and Adam.  They hosted family dinners, holidays and many Super Bowl Parties.  Leonard, an avid carpenter, built over 15,000 car toys for Toys for God’s Kids and his furniture can be found in the homes of his children and grandchildren.  Sylvia began her faith journey at the small church in Louviers where she taught Sunday School. She always said that she learned right along with the kids!  Sylvia supported their church by volunteering in service roles in a variety of ways and supporting grandson Sonny’s business as a bookkeeper for many years after she retired.  Together they were members of the Optimists Club and found the creed of the Club, ‘to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble’ in keeping with their view on life.

Leonard and Sylvia built their life and their family one day at a time.  They began as two individuals and their family today numbers 29.

Leonard and Sylvia are survived by daughters Debra and husband Peter and Louise and husband Dennis; Grandchildren Jamie (Andy), Sonny (Amanda), PJ (Christy), Joey (Ivana) and Adam (Jessica) and great grandchildren:  Mackenzie, Taylor, Joshua, Andrew, Valery, Ella, Jaxon, Reagan, Grace, Rylee, Brigg, Roman, Xander, Brynlee and Viviana.  There are many nieces, nephews and cousins, together they are family.

When this life ends, we understand that the hardest thing to do is to say goodbye.  We want you to know that with Leonard and Sylvia, they each had the time to say goodbye to their children and grandchildren with the certainty that they were going home.

With words so certain there is comfort because nothing is left to chance, there is no speculation or wondering.  Among Leonard’s last words, “Don’t worry about me, I’ll be just fine.”  Sylvia in talking about her death, “It’s time”, and in response to a question, “Are you afraid, are you anxious?”  “No, I’m not afraid, maybe a little anxious.”  Then she went to sleep.

A chapter ends, but the story continues in each of us who continue their story of faith, family and life.

John 14; 1-4  “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the MS Society or to Red Rocks Fellowship Church, 11195 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80127.