Cathy Hickerson

Cathy Jane Hickerson, age 74 years of Niles, Michigan; wife, sister, teacher, Michigan state fan, and friend to many died unexpectedly at 2:47 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a sudden illness at home. Her family appreciates the efforts of the first responders, and the emergency hospital staff. Her family also made decisions following her death that will extend and enhance the lives of others.

She was born on December 17, 1949 at Niles’ Pawating Hospital to Anthony E. and D. Jule (Heslet) Frucci, and was graduated from Niles High School. She continued her education at Michigan State University in East Lansing, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She was employed as a teacher by the Niles Community Schools, teaching at Southside School, and Ballard Elementary School. She completed continuing education courses at Michigan State, eventually earning two Masters degrees. She has lived in Niles all of her life.

Cathy enjoyed reading, mostly books by the American authors, Stephen King and John Grisham, and the Detroit Free Press sports columnist and inspirational author Mitch Albom. She also had read many books about former U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and her life and family. She often watched television while reading, usually watching the Food Network, although in the kitchen, she really mastered only the Thanksgiving roast turkey, which she carefully basted.

She enjoyed collecting gnomes and snowmen, which resided in small areas of the house, along with minions and beanie babies, all of which were in the shadows of her obvious and vast collection of Michigan State paraphernalia. Most of that collection focused on the Spartan Basketball team and its coach, Tom Izzo of whom she was a genuine fangirl, once getting to meet him and shake his hand. She was an active fan of the basketball team, offering the television screen much encouragement, which carried-over to the other sports that she watched.

On April 3, 1990 at “A Little White Wedding Chapel” in Las Vegas she married Dale James Hickerson with whom she celebrated this year the thirty-fourth anniversary of their wedding.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Jule Frucci.

Surviving family includes her husband, Dale; and her sister, Jill E. Frucci, DVM of Lynn, Massachusetts.

The family of Cathy Hickerson will receive relatives and friends on Friday, July 12, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Committal will be private, at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Online condolences and memories may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Cathy enjoyed teaching, and was Sparty’s greatest fan; but more important were the people in her life, many, many dear friends, her sister, and Dale.