the Hilfiker Foundation Respect, Honor, Comfort, Care, Hope, and Continued Love

The Hilfiker Foundation is dedicated to the late Bernadine and Everett Hilfiker, who spent over 60 loving years together and knew how they wanted to live their last days. Those days were to be spent as much as possible in the comfort of the home they had planned, built, and made together. Bernadine and Everett represent all of us who want our last days of life to be as comfortable and joyous as theirs were.

 

The Hilfiker Foundation is ready to help with financial support for in-home care providers for the last days of life at home. Applications for this support are reviewed by our board of local citizens, all of whom have special interest and training in this field.

 

We go through life hoping to have a peaceful end in our own homes. We fear losing all control of our personal selves and becoming a burden to our friends and families with only the recourse of being in an institutionalized nursing home.

 

The Hilfiker Foundation wants to give families another option. We provide education and resources to help families plan alternatives to moving elderly loved ones out of their homes.

 

 

ORIGINS

 

Bernadine Hilfiker was a loving mother and wife when she died at her own home shortly after reaching her 94th birthday. She had wanted to pass away peacefully in her own home when that time came. She was frustrated a few weeks before when she was in a skilled nursing facility, and her family was concerned that they were unable to provide for her at home. Ultimately, and fortunately in time, her family was able to bring her home and provide care for her. She was able to enjoy being at home and see spring bring beauty to her own yard, which she had developed and loved for so many years. She saw her treasured Carolina Silverbell tree bloom one more time.

 

 

Board Members MARY HILFIKER, M.D., PH.D., Executive Officer Dr. Hilfiker retired after a career as a pediatric surgeon in San Diego from 1995-2018. She completed training in pediatric surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Prior to that, she attended medical school at Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, and completed her general surgery residency at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Before deciding to attend medical school, she completed a Ph.D. in cell biology and did research at the National Institute of Health and Cleveland Clinic in immunology. She maintained board certification in both general surgery and pediatric surgery. She was the trauma medical director for the Rady Children’s Hospital Level 1 pediatric trauma center, where she strove to facilitate the care of the trauma patient. She believes that caring for a patient involves educating the family and understanding their perspective of illness and health. KEITH H. CROWE, B.S., D.C. A lifelong Atlanta area resident, Dr. Crowe received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Saint Louis University and Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University. He is Board Certified in Advanced Orthospinology and has completed special courses in x-ray technology as well as Atlas Orthogonal Percussion Instrument Adjusting. He was a founding member of the Academy of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Organizations and has been published in the peer-reviewed Chiropractic Research Journal. MARCI FLUELLYN, Secretary Ms. Councilwoman Fluellyn serves on the Lovejoy City Council representing Post 1, a position she has held since 2007. She has spent two terms as Mayor Pro Tem, from 2012-2013 and 2016-2017. She is the Executive Director of Elevate Lovejoy Mentoring Program through the City of Lovejoy, of which she is also a founding member. This program helps youth bridge the gap between dependence and independence by teaching them life skills enhancements, career development, and life path planning. With 25 years' experience in procurement and supply chain, Ms. Councilwoman Fluellyn finished her career as the Global Director of Procurement for a porous plastics OEM manufacturing company in Fairburn, Georgia. She is a single mother of three adult children and grandmother to two granddaughters. ANN HILFIKER KING, Founding Member (2016-2019) Mrs. King, who passed away May 22, 2019, was a retired IT professional and teacher and was the in-home caregiver for her late husband during his 14-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She also spent seven years caring for her late parents in their home. She was an exercise and fitness enthusiast, as well as a group facilitator for an Alzheimer's support group for over 20 years.