Hilda Blum Mansfield died on March 17, 2020, five weeks short of her 100th birthday. She always said she didn’t want to live to be 100. Born on April 24, 1920, she was a teacher, pianist, gardener, and supporter of human rights. She voted in every election and hours before her death received notice that her mail ballot for the March 17 primary election had been received and accepted.
Hilda appreciated art, music, theater, travel, and good food (especially ice cream). She lived in Chicago for her first 58 years and taught first grade, first in Alsip and then at the University of Chicago Lab School. She and her husband Ralph moved to the island of Mallorca, Spain, after he retired and lived there for 12 years. She and Ralph moved back to the U.S. in 1990 and lived in Santa Rosa, California. Ralph died in 2007 and Hilda remained in Santa Rosa until August 2018, when she moved back to Chicago.
Hilda Mansfield is survived by her four children, Karen Mansfield, Diane (Tom) Judge, Ernie (Susana) Mansfield, and Pamela Mansfield; four grandchildren, Tara (Poco) Compehos, Sam (Lalita) Mansfield, Nikkie Mansfield, and Lori Mansfield; and two great-grandchildren: Kamali Moon and Nalu Compehos.
In Hilda’s memory, please eat some good ice cream and vote blue in November.
Arrangements were handled by Cremation Society of Illinois, 773-281-5058 or www.cremation-society.com.
