Lora Hiney, age 90, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2011, surrounded by her family in Bolton, CT. Born in Chicago in 1920 to George and Stella Mayer, Lora moved to Waukegan at the age of 2, when her father's company won a contract to pave Grand Avenue. A proud resident of Waukegan for 80 years, Lora graduated from WTHS in 1938 and went on to earn a teaching degree at Northern Illinois University. Lora taught in the Waukegan schools for 30 years, primarily at Carmen and Lyons schools. She continued her studies in education, eventually earning a Master's degree from NIU. Lora loved the theater and was active in Community Players, both on stage and behind the scenes, for many years. She particularly enjoyed playing flamboyant character parts and never needed a microphone to be heard in the back rows of the theater. After her retirement in 1980, Lora took up painting and became involved in a number of local organizations, including the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, where she served on the board for several years. Lora also volunteered regularly at Victory Memorial Hospital and supported the Waukegan Historical Society. Family concerns about Lora's health in her later years prompted her being "kidnapped," as she referred to it, to Connecticut, but she never forgot her Waukegan roots and the life-long friends that she had there. Lora was preceded in death by her husband Aaron in 1968. She is survived by her daughter Esther Bedik and son-in-law Lloyd of Bolton, CT, their children Alit, Aaron, and Troy, and grandchildren Jack, Abby, Matthew, Jordan, and Carter; daughter Stella Wiesman and son-in-law Ronald of Fairfax, VA, and their son Abram. She is also survived by her devoted sister Joan Mayer Teller of Lake Oswego, OR, many nieces, and grand-nephew Sidney (Butch) Mayer, wife Margaret, and daughter Sydney of Round Lake, IL. A graveside service and burial will take place on Sunday, February 6, at 2:00 p.m. at Am Echod Cemetery in Waukegan. Arrangements are under the direction of PETERSON & PATCH FUNERAL HOME Waukegan.

Published in News Sun from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, 2011