Romana Hillebrand, 67, Moscow

Romana Powers Hillebrand, age 67, passed away Saturday, April 3, 2010, in her home at 857 Orchard Ave., Moscow, surrounded by her loved ones after a blessedly short struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

The daughter of the late John and Sara Rita Powers, she was born Nov. 25, 1942, in Los Angeles, where she attended various schools. She graduated from St. Andrews High School in Pasadena, Calif., and went on to earn a secondary teaching credential from California State University at Los Angeles. She completed her graduate work at the University of Idaho.

When she was a young girl she knew she wanted to be a teacher and ended up teaching at every possible level from nursery school to the university level during her teaching career. For several years, she served as the chair of the English department at Wilson High School in Los Angeles before moving from Pasadena to Idaho in 1988. She taught English at UI and Washington State University. In 2007, she retired from the English department at WSU. During her long career as a dedicated English teacher, she helped countless students and made the world a better, more literate place.

With her husband of 40 years, Tim Hillebrand, she traveled to more than 100 countries around the world on his archaeological expeditions. In addition to her passion for teaching, she was an avid gardener who enjoyed working in her Japanese garden in Moscow. She also enjoyed volunteer work with several community organizations and was active in professional organizations as well.

Romana is survived by her husband, Timothy Shaw Hillebrand; daughters, Shawna Lynn Saperstein of Arroyo Grande, Calif., and Erika Isabel Hillebrand of San Diego; sons, Timothy Cushing Hillebrand of Houston and Matthew Powers Hillebrand of Austin, Texas; brothers, James Powers of Southampton, N.J., and Frank Powers of Las Vegas; stepfather, Sam D'Ambro of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; brothers-in-law, Terrell Hillebrand of Houston and Loren Hillebrand of Santa Barbara, Calif.; eight grandchildren, Andrew and Chloe Galassi of Arroyo Grande, and Ariana, Brendon, Cameron, Ethan, Daniella and Fulton Hillebrand of Houston; and many cousins, friends and esteemed colleagues.

She was preceded in death by her son Michael Scott Saperstein.

There will be no funeral services. Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life in June when her ashes will be scattered at the foot of a beautiful waterfall in California.

We wish to extend our profound appreciation to Hospice for its caring and efficient assistance during Romana's last days that made her passing more comfortable for all of us.

The family has established a memorial fund in her name with the Alzheimer's Association: http://bit.ly/romana_hillebrand.

Short's Funeral Chapel of Moscow, is handling arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.