MaryLee Hillen, nee Kaiman, age 66, of O'Fallon, Ill., born December 12, 1944 in Ethlyn, Missouri, passed away Sunday morning, September 4, 2011 at Relais Bonne Eau hospice, in Edwardsville, Ill.

MaryLee was a business teacher, retiring from O'Fallon Twp. High School in 2000 after teaching for 33 years, including her first year at Cahokia. MaryLee sang in the Celebration Choir at St. Clare Church for nearly 30 years, was a member of Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, board member of St. Clare Senior Citizens, and member of St. Clare School Parents & Friends. She was a member of Illinois Retired Teachers' Assoc. and O'Fallon Boosters.

She was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Bernadine, nee Dreisewerd, Kaiman; and her parents-in-law, Harry "Hap" and Mildred Hillen.

Surviving are her husband Ronald "Coog" Hillen, whom she married June 11, 1966 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Old Monroe, Mo.; daughter Angela (Donald) Karpel of Mascoutah, son Darrin (Beverly Stewart) Hillen of O'Fallon; grandchildren Ryan and Brittany Karpel, whom she adored; brothers James (Karen) Kaiman of Chesterfield, Mo. and Robert (Katherine) Kaiman of Old Monroe, Mo., sister Jean (Joseph) Hogan of Old Monroe, Mo., many nieces and nephews, and her retired teacher-friends, the "has-beens."

Memorials are requested to St. Clare Catholic Church Building Fund or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 9:00 pm, Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at St. Clare Catholic Church and one hour prior to Mass. The Rosary will be recited at 8:30 pm, Wednesday.

Funeral: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Thursday, September 8, 2011 at St. Clare Catholic Church, with Rev. James Deiters presiding and Msgr. Jerome Hartlein concelebrating. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Shiloh, Ill.