Hilde was born in Wigstadtl, Czechoslovakia and after a healthy and productive 94 years, sadly passed away in North Vancouver after a short illness. Having survived the Second World War, in 1948, she, husband Ernie and young daughter Christl came by ship to Canada, settling in Dawson Creek, BC. Hilde called herself a true Canadian and in jest, a cancelled Czech. She always lived large (hippity-hoppity as she put it) and was a great friend to all she met, a creative artist and a boundless home cook. Hundreds of her landscape paintings and her cookbook, titled "You Can't Live on Sex Alone", are in many homes across Canada. Predeceased by her parents, Julie and Johann Ziglarsch, and her spouse, Ernie Bittman. She is survived by two loving daughters: Christl Hansen (Neil Hansen) and Kim Bittman (Tom Broddy); four grandchildren, Kara, Lecia, Teagan and Kelsey; and two great-grandchildren, Spencer and Luc. A celebration of life will be held in North Vancouver on February 20th, and later this year a ceremony will be held to inter her ashes with Ernie at the Dawson Creek City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the South Peace Art Society, which operates the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, would be appreciated (see www.dcartgallery.ca for address).