Help the Hill Family Through This Tragic Loss

Being born with a built in bestie is simply amazing. Being a part of their entire family (and by entire, I mean entire — aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, great aunts and uncles, etc.) since day one is a blessing. I have known Nicole (Denk) Hill since the day I was born. My childhood was amazing because I had my bestie by my side. Our summer vacations were spent at her family’s camp in Cook Forest with everyone. Camp was the highlight of the year. Riding our bikes to the spring to fill the gallon jugs, hiking around the Fire Tower, eating ice cream & feeding the animals at The Farmers Inn, playing badminton, and winding down the night with s’mores and mountain pies around the campfire while we sang our favorite songs in the songbook we created.

Nicole has worked hard through her life, excelling through honors classes in school, working with children with special needs at Camp AIM during summer breaks, and beginning her family. Nicole & Elijah were young & in love. They welcomed Kira into the world in August 2003. Elijah was in the United States Army & was deployed to Iraq in February 2004. During this time, Nicole enrolled in school so she could advance her career to support her family. After 13 months of being a “single parent,” Elijah’s tour of duty was over and the Hill Family was reunited. Their love and family continued to grow, in October 2008, Braedy was born, and then the final piece arrived in January 2012 when Avery was born.

Life hasn’t always been easy, but they got through it together. Kira, Braedy, and Avery are amazing humans, well liked by their peers and teachers. They are hard working like their parents, involved in sports and various extra curricular activities. They are intelligent, kind, helpful, and have great senses of humor.

The unimaginable happened on October 6th, 2024 when Elijah unexpectedly and suddenly passed away, leaving his wife of 20 years and their three children, now 21, almost 16, and 12, and the beloved family dog, Lando. Unfortunately, Nicole now faces a huge financial burden on her own. Elijah was a Veteran, but that only covers the burial, not the funeral expenses. Elijah also did not have life insurance. Nicole, the children, and Lando will have to move as their current rental is not attainable on an individual’s salary, on top of bills and groceries and the extracurriculars the children participate in. Moving means finding a place while having the first and last month’s rent on hand, plus a security deposit. Life is expensive, especially when you are suddenly doing it on your own.

When it rains, it pours. The Hills will be able to navigate through this difficult situation and heal with an amazing support system. Life is a financial struggle currently for so many. If you are able to offer monetary support to the Hill Family at this time, it would be greatly appreciated. This money will be used for funeral expenses, groceries, bills, and other life expenses as they occur. If you are unable to donate, please share this GoFundMe & keep the Hill Family in your thoughts and prayers.