Harriett
Harriett Burchill
d. October 31, 2014
Harriett Alice Hillier Burchill of Frederick, MD passed quietly and peacefully October 31, 2014 at Frederick Memorial Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert C. Burchill.
The youngest of four children, she was born March 6, 1924 to Harry and Alice Weed Hillier in Chicago, IL. During the 1930's the family moved to East Lansing, MI. Her father was an accountant and her mother was a school teacher with degrees from Olivet College in Olivet, MI.
In Michigan, Harriet developed her love of music. She received her B.A. at Baldwin-Wallace College of Berea, OH, finishing with a Masters from Michigan State University. She continued her voice and piano studies in New York City, performing as a soloist and as a member of the Little Orchestra Society and at Juilliard School of Music in NYC.
In 1949 she married Robert Burchill and had two children, Emily Elna and Robert H. In 1954, they moved to Port Huron, MI, where she established a private voice and piano studio that operated for 60 years. Her husband was a pioneer in the antique automobile parts business and had a firm that existed for 40 plus years. She worked side by side with her husband in the parts business while teaching and raising a family.
Performing and directing various choirs and musical organizations, she was very involved with the Port Huron Musicale Chorus, First Congregational Church of Port Huron as Music Director, and along with Joyce Schultiess wrote and published several one act operas.
Daughter Emily followed in her footsteps and received her Ph.D from New York University in Music Education. Son Robert has also followed in the family's love of music, playing double bass and singing in various choirs.
Harriett moved to the Frederick area in 2005 and promptly became involved with local music programs. She became the "Orchestra Mom" of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, participated in music at Zion Lutheran Church in Middletown and was very proud of her involvement with the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) program at Frederick Community College. Taking classes with her older sister Frances made them the oldest siblings matriculated at an American college. Further, she created and taught classes in various aspects of music and was still teaching four weeks ago until health concerns made her stop. Harriett was also a member of the Frederick Red Hat Society.
Harriett was preceded in death by her daughter Dr. Emily E. Burchill, her brother William Hillier and two sisters Frances Pletz and Emily Moke.
She is survived by her son Robert and daughter-in-law Paulella of Jefferson, MD, and granddaughter Rebecca Clark of Muskogee, OK, of whom she was especially proud.
Memorial services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Middletown, MD, Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 1:00 pm and at the First Congregational Church in Port Huron, MI, at a date to be specified in the spring of 2015.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, www.fredericksymphany.org/donations, or to Institute for Learning in Retirement, checks made payable to the FCC Foundation/ILR ILR, 7932Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.
The youngest of four children, she was born March 6, 1924 to Harry and Alice Weed Hillier in Chicago, IL. During the 1930's the family moved to East Lansing, MI. Her father was an accountant and her mother was a school teacher with degrees from Olivet College in Olivet, MI.
In Michigan, Harriet developed her love of music. She received her B.A. at Baldwin-Wallace College of Berea, OH, finishing with a Masters from Michigan State University. She continued her voice and piano studies in New York City, performing as a soloist and as a member of the Little Orchestra Society and at Juilliard School of Music in NYC.
In 1949 she married Robert Burchill and had two children, Emily Elna and Robert H. In 1954, they moved to Port Huron, MI, where she established a private voice and piano studio that operated for 60 years. Her husband was a pioneer in the antique automobile parts business and had a firm that existed for 40 plus years. She worked side by side with her husband in the parts business while teaching and raising a family.
Performing and directing various choirs and musical organizations, she was very involved with the Port Huron Musicale Chorus, First Congregational Church of Port Huron as Music Director, and along with Joyce Schultiess wrote and published several one act operas.
Daughter Emily followed in her footsteps and received her Ph.D from New York University in Music Education. Son Robert has also followed in the family's love of music, playing double bass and singing in various choirs.
Harriett moved to the Frederick area in 2005 and promptly became involved with local music programs. She became the "Orchestra Mom" of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, participated in music at Zion Lutheran Church in Middletown and was very proud of her involvement with the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) program at Frederick Community College. Taking classes with her older sister Frances made them the oldest siblings matriculated at an American college. Further, she created and taught classes in various aspects of music and was still teaching four weeks ago until health concerns made her stop. Harriett was also a member of the Frederick Red Hat Society.
Harriett was preceded in death by her daughter Dr. Emily E. Burchill, her brother William Hillier and two sisters Frances Pletz and Emily Moke.
She is survived by her son Robert and daughter-in-law Paulella of Jefferson, MD, and granddaughter Rebecca Clark of Muskogee, OK, of whom she was especially proud.
Memorial services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Middletown, MD, Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 1:00 pm and at the First Congregational Church in Port Huron, MI, at a date to be specified in the spring of 2015.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, www.fredericksymphany.org/donations, or to Institute for Learning in Retirement, checks made payable to the FCC Foundation/ILR ILR, 7932Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.
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