Philip Austin Hilderbrand born August 31, 1953, died October 7, 2023
The passing of our beloved Philip has left an immense void in the hearts of those that loved him. The grief and sorrow of his loss is insurmountable to me as his wife because you can love someone, but being in love is different. Philip’s son, Brian along with his wife Becky and children Presley and Brooks, his daughter Melissa, and her son Graydon are grieving for their father and grandfather who was so proud of them and their accomplishments. He loved them with all his heart and soul. Philip took my son Giovanni, his wife Jaime and children Charlotte and Ember, my daughter Tiziana as his own and loved them as they loved him. He truly loved his brothers and sisters, Sheryl, Carter, and Denise. He was deeply saddened when he recently lost his brother Bobby whom he dearly loved. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews whom he loved, as well as many, many friends.
But this is not meant to be your ordinary obituary, but it is to recount the life of an extraordinary man that not many truly knew.
Philip was an artist, his woodwork was his passion, he was a perfectionist. He was the kindest man and touched the hearts of all he met. He was a true friend you could count on and always there to lend a helping hand. He had the most beautiful smile, and he was always smiling! He was a prankster, and I will miss him sneaking up on me, scaring me with a horrible clown mask or making me fall for something utterly ridiculous because he knew how gullible I was, but most of all I will miss his laugh and will forever cherish the countless times we laughed together and at each other. He loved the woods and especially driving on the golden roads in the Northwoods of Maine looking for moose, deer, eagles and more.
He was a child at heart. He enjoyed taking Graydon, Presley and Brooks to the arcade and shopping with them and loved watching their games. He had fun driving Charlotte and Ember around our property, on the wagon pulled by a small tractor. I truly believe he had more fun than they did.
Philip and I met in late 1969 in Germany. His brother Carter and he had a band, he played the bass. His sister Denise was my best friend and I asked her if she would introduce us and from there it became Philip and Mary Ann. In Italian we call it the “il colpo di fulmine” (lit, being struck by lightning) or love at first sight. We loved taking long walks and just loved being together. He was my world, but we were young, and life didn’t turn out like we wanted. We both eventually married and both of us had a girl and a boy. He truly loved his wife Brenda and worked hard to give them the life they deserved. When Philip came back into my life, we both realized that the “il colpo di fulmine” was still there. We married and had four and a half years of true love, laughter, and joy. We both fell in love with each other’s families, and I will keep his family, that I now love as my own, in my life forever.
Despite his failing health, we managed to make it down to Georgia to see family and friends. I was also able to give him his dream of returning to my home in Italy where we had been as teenagers. Although he was not well, it was worth it to see his smile and the happiness of being with his family. I knew in my heart it would be the last time, but neither of us wanted to talk about it or believe it and surely did not want to tell others. God had a plan and our faith in Christ has helped both of us deal with the pain and sadness. My only comfort is to know he is in heaven now, looking down on us and that he no longer is in pain and rid of all illness. He will live in our hearts forever.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 1-2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Cascade Hills Church ,727 54th St. Columbus GA 31904, with a Celebration of Philip's Life will be held immediately after. We kindly ask that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to “Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders” a charity close to our hearts that provides urgently needed medical and humanitarian aid in moments of crisis and conflict, throughout the world, regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, or political affiliation in loving memory of Philip.
Keep your loved ones close and take the time to say I love you; Philip and I did every single day we were together.
With much love and gratitude, his beloved wife, Mary Ann Hilderbrand
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Philip Hilderbrand, please visit our flower store.
The passing of our beloved Philip has left an immense void in the hearts of those that loved him. The grief and sorrow of his loss is insurmountable to me as his wife because you can love someone, but being in love is different. Philip’s son, Brian along with his wife Becky and children Presley and Brooks, his daughter Melissa, and her son Graydon are grieving for their father and grandfather who was so proud of them and their accomplishments. He loved them with all his heart and soul. Philip took my son Giovanni, his wife Jaime and children Charlotte and Ember, my daughter Tiziana as his own and loved them as they loved him. He truly loved his brothers and sisters, Sheryl, Carter, and Denise. He was deeply saddened when he recently lost his brother Bobby whom he dearly loved. He also leaves behind nieces and nephews whom he loved, as well as many, many friends.
But this is not meant to be your ordinary obituary, but it is to recount the life of an extraordinary man that not many truly knew.
Philip was an artist, his woodwork was his passion, he was a perfectionist. He was the kindest man and touched the hearts of all he met. He was a true friend you could count on and always there to lend a helping hand. He had the most beautiful smile, and he was always smiling! He was a prankster, and I will miss him sneaking up on me, scaring me with a horrible clown mask or making me fall for something utterly ridiculous because he knew how gullible I was, but most of all I will miss his laugh and will forever cherish the countless times we laughed together and at each other. He loved the woods and especially driving on the golden roads in the Northwoods of Maine looking for moose, deer, eagles and more.
He was a child at heart. He enjoyed taking Graydon, Presley and Brooks to the arcade and shopping with them and loved watching their games. He had fun driving Charlotte and Ember around our property, on the wagon pulled by a small tractor. I truly believe he had more fun than they did.
Philip and I met in late 1969 in Germany. His brother Carter and he had a band, he played the bass. His sister Denise was my best friend and I asked her if she would introduce us and from there it became Philip and Mary Ann. In Italian we call it the “il colpo di fulmine” (lit, being struck by lightning) or love at first sight. We loved taking long walks and just loved being together. He was my world, but we were young, and life didn’t turn out like we wanted. We both eventually married and both of us had a girl and a boy. He truly loved his wife Brenda and worked hard to give them the life they deserved. When Philip came back into my life, we both realized that the “il colpo di fulmine” was still there. We married and had four and a half years of true love, laughter, and joy. We both fell in love with each other’s families, and I will keep his family, that I now love as my own, in my life forever.
Despite his failing health, we managed to make it down to Georgia to see family and friends. I was also able to give him his dream of returning to my home in Italy where we had been as teenagers. Although he was not well, it was worth it to see his smile and the happiness of being with his family. I knew in my heart it would be the last time, but neither of us wanted to talk about it or believe it and surely did not want to tell others. God had a plan and our faith in Christ has helped both of us deal with the pain and sadness. My only comfort is to know he is in heaven now, looking down on us and that he no longer is in pain and rid of all illness. He will live in our hearts forever.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 1-2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Cascade Hills Church ,727 54th St. Columbus GA 31904, with a Celebration of Philip's Life will be held immediately after. We kindly ask that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made to “Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders” a charity close to our hearts that provides urgently needed medical and humanitarian aid in moments of crisis and conflict, throughout the world, regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, or political affiliation in loving memory of Philip.
Keep your loved ones close and take the time to say I love you; Philip and I did every single day we were together.
With much love and gratitude, his beloved wife, Mary Ann Hilderbrand
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