Cancer takes Julie Hildebrand at 42

Julie Hildebrand's brave battle with cancer ended Friday, when she died peacefully at the age of 42. A celebration of her life will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church on Cantova Way.

Mrs. Hildebrand is remembered in the community not only as a friend and neighbor, but for her work as a nurse in pediatric oncology.

Murietan Martin Rivett recalled meeting the Hildebrand family during his daughter's struggle to overcome cancer and how Mrs. Hildebrand's "support and advice kept our hopes high. This is what angels on earth do and she was truly an angel," he wrote in a post on RM.com.

During her own struggle with the disease, the community rallied to help Mrs. Hildebrand and her family -- Neil, her husband of 20 years, and children Luke Reed and Joy Elizabeth. Numerous fundraising events were held in Rancho Murieta last year, including an art auction that was attended by more than a hundred people.

Julie Marie Hildebrand was born to Roger and Donna Wilson Jan. 11, 1970, in Milwaukee, Wis. She was the oldest of four sisters, and her family remembers her as a natural caregiver.

In 1992, she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She continued her nursing studies as a graduate student at Sonoma State University, where she researched and wrote about palliative care for newborns.

Her nursing career began at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. There, she worked tirelessly caring for some of the youngest patients in the pediatric oncology unit. Most recently, she worked as a registered nurse at the Northern California Children's Hematology & Oncology Medical Group.

Mrs. Hildebrand was a lifelong animal lover and dog owner. She also enjoyed gardening, quilting, reading and shopping for makeup and shoes. Above all, she loved spending time with and caring for her two children. She leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness. 

In addition to her parents, husband and children, Mrs. Hildebrand is survived by sisters Brenda Gehin of Belleville, Wis.; Debra Mussehl of Verona, Wis.; Melissa Lantz of Belleville, Wis.; in-laws Gary and Peggy Hildebrand and sister-in-law Krista Esparza of Rancho Murieta; 11 nieces and nephews, and many special friends in and around the Rancho Murieta community.  She was preceded in death by a son, Jack Ryan Hildebrand, who died in 2004.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Julie Hildebrand Memorial Fund at El Dorado Savings Bank in Rancho Murieta.