Victoria Hillebrand's Obituary
Victoria Datomo Hillebrand passed in her sleep on June 23, 2014 just two months shy of her 103rd birthday. Born in Turin, Italy on August 23, 1911, Mrs. Hillebrand, fondly known to friends as Vicki and family as Gramma, traveled with her parents, Giuseppe Datomo and Giulia Soffiantino, to the United States when she was still a toddler. Growing up in Manhattan where Giuseppe Datomo had set up a thriving carpentry business in Greenwich Village, Vicki excelled in handicrafts herself, particularly as a seamstress. In the early 1930s one of her shirt designs was even marketed to the famed Neiman-Marcus brand in Texas. Marrying briefly in 1934 to Harry Hillebrand, Vicki bore her only daughter in 1935, Harriet Alda Hillebrand (a middle name in honor of Vicki’s younger sister who had died suddenly from an infection). Divorced in 1936, Vicki garnered industrious strength and fortitude that would remain her trademark for decades to come. As a maverick single mother in the tumultuous era of the American Depression, Vicki, with the aid of her parents, provided for her young daughter with her seamstress wages. However, frequent occasions attending the opera with her father allowed Vicki to serendipitously light upon a lifelong career and friendship with Metropolitan Opera diva, Dorothy Kirsten. At first only the president of the Dorothy Kirsten Fan Club in Northern New Jersey, Vicki became indispensable to the young and rising mezzo-soprano as a hair stylist and dresser. As Ms. Kirsten’s fame began to catapult, Kirsten hired Vicki on as her personal assistant, a position that took Vicki on tour around the world with the diva who became most famous for her roles in Puccini’s operas, particularly as Mimi in La Boheme and Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly. Kirsten rarely would travel without Vicki by her side, and even insisted that the costume department of the MET use some of Vicki’s alterations of costume designs by such famous designers as Edith Head. When Ms. Kirsten relocated to Los Angeles in the 1950s, Vicki Hillebrand relocated with her and remained a most loyal friend and assistant until Dorothy Kirsten’s death in 1992. Vicki continued to honor Ms. Kirsten’s legacy as she became a sustaining force and Founding Associate in the Alzheimer’s Foundation honoring Ms. Kirsten’s husband , famed UCLA neurosurgeon Dr. John Douglas French. Vicki is survived by her daughter, Harriet Hillebrand Burns and son-in-law John E. Burns, as well as four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. A woman of refinement and punctilious precision, Victoria Datamo Hillebrand, Gramma, will always be remembered for her indefatigable spirit and love of all things opera. Loving mother of Harriet "Bunnie" and her husband John Burns. Grandmother of Tracie M. Galbraith (Joseph), Leslie Anne Patient (Steve), John Joseph Burns (Sarah) and Christie Maria Burns. Great grandmother of Devon Galbraith, Mari Patient, Kiri Patient and Matthew Burns. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Vicki's Life Celebration Saturday 10:30 a.m. on June 28th, at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Branch Pike & Pomona Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077. Her Memorial Mass will follow 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to John Douglas French Alzheimer Foundation, 11620 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 270, Los Angeles, CA 90025.
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