Pamela Jean Hillstrand

Pamela “Pam” Jean Hillstrand was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and poker player. Pam left this world unexpectedly on November 2, 2021 at the age of 69. Born April 4, 1952 to Beverly and Roy Cooper, Sr (both deceased), Pam graduated from Berlin High School in 1970 where she met her high school sweetheart, Mark Hillstrand. Pam couldn’t resist Mark’s bad boy charm or his Pontiac GTO, so high school sweethearts became forever soulmates. Pam and Mark have been riding together through life for over 50 years and they are one of life’s greatest love stories. They added a car seat to one of Mark’s many cars when they had their little girl, Jody. Pam loved being a mom whether it was teaching Jody how to read, instilling the value of cheap white bread, or finding Jody’s “collection of baggies” hidden all over the house. Pam welcomed Jody’s husband, Chris Martin, into the family with open arms and they made her a Grammy to Ava Jean. Pam loved nothing more than to show off Ava’s beautiful drawings and paintings. Pam loved taking rides in Mark’s Corvette to the shore to get a hot dog or to buy her beloved McDonald’s fountain soda. Pam also had her weekend rituals: lunch at Bill’s Pizza with her sister, Paula, on Saturdays and taking a ride with Mark to Mohegan Sun to play her lucky machine on Sundays. She knew all the latest drama on her Bravo reality TV shows and made the best brownies, banana bread, and pineapple upside down cake this world has ever seen. Aside from Pam’s immediate family, she leaves behind eight siblings: Patricia (and Kenneth) Glaser, William (and Victoria) Cooper, Roy Cooper Jr., Paula Cooper, Penelope “Penny” Cooper, Frances (and Timothy) Miller, Gerard “Roddie” Cooper, and Joy (and Samantha) Cooper. Pam also leaves behind 14 nieces and nephews, 10 great nieces and nephews, and her grand-dog, Princess. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, November 8, 2021 at Berlin Memorial Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Kensington, CT from 12:00pm- 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of Pam’s favorite charities, the St. Clare Food Pantry of St. Paul Catholic Parish located at 461 Alling St, Berlin, CT.

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