Obituary of Darrell Douglas Hiltz

November 22, 1943- December 24, 2024

On Christmas Eve, at 3:33 p.m., my Dad drew his last breath and left this world. He was 81 years old. My Mum and I were there holding his hand and he slipped away peacefully, without pain. If he had to die, I couldn’t ask for a better experience for him.

Despite a remarkable comeback from pneumonia, he caught Covid, just days before he was to be discharged for home. As a result of the Covid infection, he developed a number of blood clots in his legs and lungs and after a few days he suffered a mild but significant cardiac event and then his kidneys shut down. Ironically, his breathing wasn’t the thing that caused his body to fail. He was still bright and alert until the last two days, when he drifted in and out of sleep.

My Dad was a wonderful father; a kind, brilliant man who was also my mentor and my friend. He was a huge ally and advocate for his only grandchild, Vi and loved sharing time with them during visits and exchanging regular texts from afar.

He and Mum were married for 56 wonderful years and together for 58. They suited each other so well and loved spending their spare time together. They spent many hours landscaping their property and decorating their home exactly as they wanted, with a style to rival anything you’d find in Architectural Digest.

Dad worked many years in the provincial government, retiring as a Deputy Minister in 1995. He went on to work a few retirement, I called them “hobby”, jobs at several different municipal organizations and governments, where he used his exceptional skills at organizing and putting things back on track.

He loved reading, architecture and all sorts of motorized machines, including airplanes. He loved and cherished my Mum very much. He delighted in spending time with his nieces and nephews, who gave both him and my mum a lot of joy before I was born.

Dad enjoyed listening to music and was always playing something enjoyable on long car drives. A fond memory is of going to concerts with him and mum when I was a child; artists like Willie Nelson and John Denver. He loved Neil Young the most and was listening to him just before he passed. He loved when Nathan played for him, including his own private concert while in the ICU. He was proud to have such a fine musician as his son-in-law.

He loved animals too, especially horses and dogs (with my persuasion, also cats, lizards, turtles and fish). The sole exception was for any animal that dug up the yard, foxes, stole the grapes off of our grapevines/tore up the garbage, raccoons or made a noisy mess, Canada Geese. He would never harm any of them, but he certainly enjoyed chasing the geese off of the property by using a ride on lawnmower.

He was always my biggest supporter, whether it was studying art or studying aviation. I couldn’t have asked for anyone more proud. It seems unreal that he is gone. He will be missed so incredibly much.

Thank you everyone for your love and support the last few months. It has made this entire ordeal easier. Please don’t let him be forgotten.

I love you Dad ❤️

Love always, Jan

***

Darrell is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Linda (Potter) Hiltz; daughter, Jan (Nathan) Rogers; granddaughter, Violette “Vi” Ketonen; sister, Gail Davis; sister-in-law, Joyce Hiltz. Also, remembering and missing Darrell, on the Potter side are brothers-in-law, Brian Potter, and Wynne (Judy) Potter; sisters-in-law, Joanne (Potter) Lovett and Mary (Potter) MacDonald; as well as many dear Hiltz and Potter nieces and nephews and extended family members.

He was predeceased by his parents, Douglas and Elizabeth (Turner) Hiltz; older brothers, Milton and Francis (Fern) Hiltz ; brother-in-law, Gerald Davis; a sister in infancy; niece, Elizabeth Ann Davis; nephew, Nicholas Hiltz and sister-in-law, Barbara (Beaton) Potter.

A special thank you to the staff of the South Shore Regional Hospital, especially nurses Rebecca and Emma.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317). At his request there will be no funeral. A time to reminisce and share stories with the family about Darrell will be held later this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Darrell may be made to the Lung Association Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island, 6331 Lady Hammond Rd., Halifax, NS B3K 2S2; the South Shore Public Libraries, 135 North Park Street, Bridgewater, NS, B4V 9B3 or the New Ross Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 135, New Ross, NS B0J 2M0. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca.