Helen Marie Hillstrom - Comisky

Helen Marie (Dougherty) Hillstrom-Comiskey of Huntley, formerly of Crystal Lake, passed away peacefully in her home on February 26, 2025. 

Helen was born on February 22, 1932 in Oak Park, IL to Joseph and Marie (Kind) Dougherty. She grew up in Oglesby, IL and graduated from LaSalle Peru Township High School in 1949, then from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in LaSalle, IL in 1952. She proudly received her Bachelor’s degree from St. Francis University in Joliet, IL in 1987. She met Dr. William J. Hillstrom in Chicago in 1952, married him in June of 1954 and moved to Crystal Lake to start his practice. 

After their sixth child was born in 1965, they moved from Porter Street to Leonard Pkwy and raised their children on the lake until Dr. Hillstrom retired in 1984. They moved together to Cress Creek Lane and she cared for her husband until his death in March of 1995. 

She married her second husband, William F. Comiskey of Utica, IL in November of 1999 at St. Thomas Church. They lived a wonderful life together spending time in Florida and Crystal Lake until his passing in December of 2007. 

In 1960, Helen set up the health program at St. Thomas the Apostle School and was the volunteer school nurse for 22 years. She was appointed to the board of the Crystal Lake Civic Center Authority and served as secretary for 32 years. She was the president of the Sherman Hospital Auxiliary from 1982 to 1984 and the president of the Service League of Crystal Lake from 1985 to 1988. She was on the original Board of Directors, was a founder of the volunteer organization, and served as Director of the Raue Center for the Arts for 8 years.  Helen enjoyed knitting, playing bridge, participating in social activities at the Crystal Lake Country Club, and was a proud member of Chapter LD of PEO for 25 years. 

Her later life was filled with wonderful times with her children & stepchildren, sons & daughters-in-law, nieces & nephews and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Since 2020, Helen lived and loved being a part of Huntley Springs Retirement Community where she started the happy hour club, the movie selection committee and their competitive bridge club. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her devoted brothers Joseph, Philip and Richard; her sisters-in-law, Lois and Lorraine; her stepson, Brian; and beautiful granddaughter, Victoria. 

Survivors include her 6 children; 3 stepchildren; 18 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. Her surviving children are Bill Hillstrom of Houston, TX and his children, Heather, William Jr. and Annie; Linda Shapiro of Westport, CT and her children, Hannah, Abbie and Sam; Robert Hillstrom of Bradenton, FL and his children, Patrick and Sara; Tom (Mary) Hillstrom of New Tazewell, TN and their children, George, Thomas and Henry; Laura (Dan) Hillstrom of Niwot, CO and their children, Jay, Charlie and Peter; Jim (Julie) Hillstrom of Kenosha, WI and their children, Mollie, Katie, Joseph and Matthew; and her greatgrandchildren, Natalie (Heather), Alden and George (Hannah), Scarlett (Abbie), Penelope (Patrick) and Marigold (Sara). Her surviving stepchildren are Margaret Comiskey of Peru, IL, Mary Comiskey of Spring Grove, IL, Thomas Comiskey of Milwaukee, WI and Kerry (Amity) Comiskey of Hinsdale, IL. 

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 5, from 4pm until 8pm at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., (Rte. 176), Crystal Lake.   Mass will be on Thursday, March 6, at 10am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake.  Burial will follow at Crystal Lake Memorial Park. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, IL 60014.