James "JIM" C. Hilton

James “Jim” Hilton of Middleborough passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, surrounded by his loving wife and children.

Born in Boston, Jim was the son of the late Stanislaus and Sarah Hilton of Brookline and brother to John Hilton, Robert Hilton, the late Mary Caron, and Ann Marie Roubachewsky. Jim graduated from Boston College High School before entering St. John’s Seminary in Brighton intent on a career in the Catholic priesthood. Jim left the seminary, earned a degree in History from Boston University, and pursued his true vocation in public education. Jim worked as a sixth grade teacher at the Franklin and Kingman Schools in Brockton before moving to Middleborough as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in 1969. For many years, Jim built close professional and personal relationships in the Middleborough school community. Jim was a firm practitioner of simple Christian goodness and believer in the power of public schools as gateways to greater possibilities. When the old Burkland School burned down in August of 1988, Jim worked tirelessly recreating an entire school in time for the students to start their year. Jim went on to earn a doctoral degree from Boston College and work in school and district administration in Bridgewater and East Providence. Jim was later elected to the Middleborough School Committee three times where he maintained an active interest in the school district.

Jim was the beloved husband of over 58 years of Marion Kathleen “Kathy” (MacKenzie) Hilton. Jim was skilled at giving a helping hand to Kathy in running a home daycare center, where he changed diapers, washed dishes, mixed macaroni and cheese, and made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the thousands. In retirement Jim fulfilled his lifelong wish to see more of the world by visiting Ireland, London and Rome. More than anything, Jim has enjoyed countless warm weather days spent at his home in Onset working a grill, going for walks and swimming with his family. Simply put, Jim made a unique connection with everyone he met. He wore a genuine smile and eagerly offered a heartfelt greeting to everyone he encountered. He relished any opportunity to talk over a hot cup of tea, enjoy a banana and peanut butter sandwich, or help others solve a problem. With Kathy, Jim exemplified the devotion and selflessness required to sustain and support an extensive and healthy family.

Besides his wife Kathy, Jim is survived by his twelve children and their immediate families, including James Hilton and wife Karen of South Orange, NJ and their children Sarah, Collins, Elizabeth and Katherine; Paul Hilton and his wife Jessica of Middleborough and their son Sean; Michael Hilton and his wife Deborah of Wellington, FL; David Hilton and his wife Catherine of Middleborough; Stephen Hilton and his wife Amanda of Middleborough and their son Shea; Timothy Hilton and his wife Samantha of Spokane, WA and their children Annabel and Natalie; Kathleen Anne (Hilton) Pennini and husband Joseph of Wrentham and their children Nathaniel, Nicholas, Isabella and Abigail; Christopher Hilton and wife Taber of Westwood and their children Benjamin, Violet, and Henry; Lara (Hilton) Kingston and husband Kevin of Duxbury and their children Mackenzie, Alexandra, Kevin, William, Aidan, and Katherine; Matthew Hilton and wife Marissa of Marion and their children James, Caroline, the late Connor and Jonathan; Meaghan Hilton and husband Saif Alkhrisat of Lakeville and children Ryan and Aiden; Mary-Kaitlyn (Hilton) LoPresti and husband Michael of Saugus and children Lillian and Samuel.

All are welcome to the visiting hours at the Ashley Funeral Home, 35 Oak Street, Middleborough, on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, from 3:00-7:00 PM.

Family and friends are invited to gather at the Ashley Funeral Home, Middleborough, on Thursday, October 20, 2022, starting at 9:30 AM, and attend Jim’s funeral Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Isidore Parish, Sacred Heart Church, 340 Centre Street, Middleborough, at 10:30 AM.

The interment will immediately follow at Cemetery at the Green, Plympton Street, Middleborough.

Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry, The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 1381, Middleborough, MA 02346.

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