GARDINER – Hilda L. Whitmore lost the hard-fought battle with cancer on Feb. 18, 2021.

She was born in Randolph on Oct. 22, 1936, the daughter of Ernest M. and Ethel M. (Dawbin) Perry. She graduated from Gardiner High School in 1957.

Hilda loved to roller skate and knit. She was always making something for everyone, specializing in sweaters and mini mittens, lovingly referred to as the mitten lady. Hilda retired from Robinsons Health Care Facility as housekeeping/laundry manager.

She was predeceased by mother, Ethel and father, Ernest Perry; husband and love of her life for 34 years, Keith Whitmore Sr.; two brothers, Ernest Perry of West Gardiner and Norris Perry of Randolph, six sisters, Carolyn Walker of Massachusetts, Frances Perry of West Gardiner, Dorothy McCarty of Vassalboro, Phoebe Alexander of West Gardiner, Gertrude Lombard of Winthrop, and Alice Perry of Randolph.

Hilda is survived by her sister, Janice Kelman, of Gardiner; three children, Phillip Hodgkins and wife Kathy, of West Gardiner, Phyllis Call and husband John, of Chelsea, and John Hodgkins, of Indiana; five grandchildren, John C., of Brunswick, Amber Hodgkins, of South Berwick, Brandi Hodgkins, Phillip Decker, both of Florida, and Charlie Hodgkins, of Indiana; one great-granddaughter, Taylor Hodgkins, of Chelsea; several cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a very special young man, Jeffrey St. Peter Jr., of Chelsea; five stepchildren, Keith Whitmore Jr. of Pennsylvania, Paula Moran and husband John, of Wisconsin, Leon Whitmore and wife Anita, Leslie Whitmore and wife Rene and Lawrence Whitmore, all of West Gardiner and many step-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Following the guidelines set forth by the State of Maine and the CDC, face masks and social distancing will be required. A private family burial will be held at Cherry Hill Cemetery in West Gardiner, beside her husband, in the spring.

Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.