Verneta Mathilda Elizabeth (Mertz) Hilderbrand, 90, St. James, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at her home.
She was born March 29, 1932, to Oscar C. and Mary Elizabeth (Fuzner) Mertz in Pine Lawn.
She graduated from Normandy High School in 1951. Her first job was working at McDonald Douglas as an IBM Key Punch Operator.
Verneta was united in marriage to Howard E. Hilderbrand, Sept. 29, 1951, in St. Louis.
She worked for the Head Start Program as a Teacher’s Aide in the Preschool Program, dispatch operator for the St. James Police Department and also a long career with JC Penney until retiring in 1995.
She is preceded in death by parents Oscar C. and Mary E. Mertz; parents-in-law James and Mary Hilderbrand; husband Howard E. Hilderbrand; brother Irvin Mertz, Rea (Mertz) Barro; sons-in-law Carl Auten, Wilburn Barnett and Deon Hollandsworth.
Verneta is survived by children Mary Hutchison and husband Vern of Vienna, Patricia Dressendofer and husband Glenn of Vichy, Susan Hilderbrand of the home in St. James, Judy Auten and husband John of Brandon, Fla., James Hilderbrand and wife Belinda of St. James; Debra Firestine and husband Kent (Sam) of St. James, and Christine Mahaney and husband Sam (Bo) of Eureka; 12 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren plus one due this summer; brother-in-law Bill Hilderbrand and wife Bunny in Columbia, Ill.
Memorials suggested to American Heart Association and Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
A Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. James, with Father Brendan Griffey officiating. Burial will be in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery, St. James.
