Etta S (Degrace) Hillman

South Hadley- Etta S. (DeGrace) Hillman, 98, passed away Friday, January 29, 2021.  Etta was born in Swansea, MA, October 10, 1922 to the late Isaac and Mary (Rego-Pavao) DeGrace.  Her greatest joy was raising and nurturing her family. Etta was the founder of the Meridan CT Scholarship Fund for high school students. She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Springfield.  When she lived in Monson she was active with the Hearts Willing Women's Group at First Church of Monson, Congregational.

Etta was predeceased by her husband, John VeraCruz Hillman and a daughter Nan Pascoal.  She leaves her children, Beverly A. Ratte and her husband Lawrence of Belchertown, Sheila H. Womble of Belchertown, John W. Hillman of New Britain, CT; a brother, Antone Gonsalves of Bedford, MA; a sister, Rose Marie Dalphin of Assonet, MA; thirteen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.