Celebration of Life: Leilani Rae Hills, March 1, 1943 – October 14, 2024

Provided.

Leilani Rae Hills.

Leilani Rae Hills, 81, died on Oct. 14 in Bakersfield, California.

Leilani was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming to her parents, Clarence Raymond Miller Jr. and Dorothy Darlyne Miller. Her early childhood was spent in Green River, Wyoming, surrounded by a large extended family. Leilani and her cousin Donny were close pals and loved to explore, frequently climbing Castle Rock looking for fun and adventure. Clarence was a career Navy veteran who served in WWII. In 1953, the family was transferred to the island of Guam. Leilani loved to share her memories of experiences in Guam, where they lived for two years before returning to the U.S. and ultimately settling in Petaluma, California.

As a young woman, Leilani married Gary H. Giorgi on Thanksgiving 1960, and they had a daughter together. They later divorced, and Leilani met and married Robert E. Hills, Sr., with whom she shared a son and two more daughters before they eventually divorced.

Leilani raised her children as a single parent in Lodi, California, and worked for the state of California prison system as a supervising cook until her retirement in 2009. In 2009, Leilani and her widowed mother moved to Tehachapi, California, where she lived the rest of her life. Leilani loved the peace she found in Tehachapi.

Leilani is survived by her children Troi Ann Andreola, Robert E. Hills, Jr .; her grandchildren Samantha Hills, Tyler Hills, Anthony Andreola, Brandi Gauldin, Joseph Church, Corey Church, Sean Church; her great-grandchildren Lily, Andy and Gabriel Andreola, Ella and Clara Gauldin, Quentin Church, and Leilani Church. She is preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Susan D. Church.

Leilani is a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and will always be cherished by her family.

A memorial service will be held at a future date.

Services provided by Wood Family Funeral Service, Tehachapi.