Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Willard, Matilda K. January 25, 2004
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 16, 2010, 10:01 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, date unknown
Matilda K. (Guidi) “Til” Willard, 87, of Portland, passed away on Sunday, 
January 25, 2004 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Ionia.  

She was born October 5, 1916 in Ionia, a daughter of Santino and Mary Guidi.  
Her eyes shown with proud memories when she described the family candy store 
in Portland.  Candyland was run as a family operation and she would remember 
making fudge, taffy and other candies.  A kid in a candy store, as she 
recollected.  

Mrs. Willard graduated from Portland High School, attended Michigan State 
University and graduated from Central Michigan University.  She met her 
husband, Ralph, in high school and they were married for 61 years, prior to 
his passing in 1999.  They had three children, Steve, Louise and Roger.  While 
the children were growing up, Til worked part-time as a merchandiser for Marjo 
Hat Shop in Grand Rapids.  She also ran fashion shows at various department 
stores like Steketee’s, showcasing hats and purses.

In 1956 she and Ralph moved the family to Portland.  Til went to work at St. 
Patrick’s School in Portland as an English teacher, when her youngest child 
was 18.  She went on to implement the first Home Economics class there.  She 
had the distinction of being one of the first lay teachers hired at St. 
Patrick’s and rose to the position of Elementary principal.  

Mrs. Willard was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, parents, sister Vi, 
and brothers, Ronald and Carl.  She is survived by her children, Steven (Kay) 
Willard, Roger (Diane) Willard and Louise (Dr. James) Hilligan; six 
grandchildren, Wendy (Greg) Woodruff, Julie Willard, Todd Willard, Christine 
(Don) Harbort, Jeffrey (Janice) Hilligan, Jennifer (Bryan) Vollmer; seven 
great-grandchildren, Rachel and Jordan Woodruff, Madison, Mackenzie and 
Nicholas Harbort, Tucker and Abigail Hilligan and one Vollmer on the way.

Thanks to a special friend, Valerie Jenkins and the caring staff (especially 
Kerinne) and nurses at Heartland Healthcare in Ionia.

Cremation has taken place.  A memorial service will be held at the Portland 
Cemetery later this spring.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Barker-
Leik Funeral Home, Mulliken.



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