Doris Colligan
Granite City | Save
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Doris Mae (Hillmer) Colligan on September 26, at age 94. Doris lived her life in Granite City and Glen Carbon where she created many memories involving her family and friends.
Doris was a 1950 graduate of Granite City High School. She excelled in sewing and was awarded the Seamstress Award her senior year. She was voted Homecoming Court First Attendant and Queen of Teen Town.
Following high school, she worked at United Bank in St. Louis and Missouri Pacific Railroad. Doris married Henry Colligan on August 23, 1952.
They were the parents of three children. Michael (Sherry) Colligan of Portage Des Sioux, Missouri, Michelle (Jim) Kovarik of Glen Carbon, Illinois and Andrew Colligan of St. Louis, Missouri.
She was blessed with six grandchildren: Laura Kovarik-Riggs (Nick) Joseph Kovarik, Maria Kovarik, Ross Colligan, Ryan Colligan (Kayla), and Grant Colligan.
Doris was also blessed with three great grandchildren: Stella Colligan,
Eleanor Colligan and Frank Colligan, and also her dear sisters, Kathleen (Robert) Lombardi and Marilyn (William) Kortkamp.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary (Rapp) Hillmer, and by her brothers, Dr. Kenneth Hillmer, Donnie Hillmer, Vernon Hillmer, and William Hillmer.
Doris enjoyed collecting and refinishing antiques, home decorating, wallpapering, making draperies, and crafts and spending time in her yard gardening both vegetables & flowers. She made jellies, pies and pickles and shared them with family and friends. She was ahead of her time with crafts as she sold her crafts to various businesses such as Gliks, Famous Barr and Melody Bar Shop in Edwardsville. She had the idea of paint speckling, which became very popular. Doris was an avid reader and enjoyed sharing books with others and loved to watch old movies. Henry and Doris enjoyed traveling all over the United States and Canada in their RV and later took numerous train trips-riding the railways around the country. Henry died on July 15, 2013.
Doris’ example of a faith-filled life has influenced and blessed her family and anyone that knew her. Doris was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and made numerous lifelong friends through the parish family. Family was at the heart of Doris’s life and she deeply loved her family. Time spent with family was one of her favorite things. Annual holiday gatherings, fishing derbies at the club house, celebrating weddings, and birthdays were very special events in her life.
Doris Mae's life was a beacon of love, and kindness, she was the heart of our family and the wind beneath our wings. She was resilient and always had such a positive attitude throughout her entire life. One of her favorite pieces of advice was to say,“think positive and keep pushing.” Her memory will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
In celebration of her life, a memorial visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. At St. Mary Catholic Church in Edwardsville, IL., with the funeral mass to follow at 11:00 a.m. with Father Bob Jallas officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Edwardsville, IL.
Memorial donations may be given to St. Mary Catholic Church or Maryville Outreach Program “Grandma’s Attic”. Donations will be accepted at the church.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.irwinchapel.com.
Irwin Chapel Funeral Home
