Tillie E. Wightman
Tillie "Billie" E. Wightman, best known for her caring spirit, devotion to family, and gift of storytelling, died in Rochester, NY on June 29, 2024 at the age of 98. She is survived by her brother Peter James Bruno, Sr.; son, Albert Mitchell; daughter, Cheryl A. (Mitchell) Fehnel and son-in-law Robert Fehnel; grandsons, Aaron Fehnel and Corey Fehnel, four great grandchildren, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and a large loving extended family. During World War II, she was part of the vast civilian mobilization to support the war effort by welding airplane fuselages at AC Delco in Rochester, NY. Hard work was central to her character throughout her life, but labor never stood in the way of fun. Among her many stories, she famously burned a large hole in her skirt with a welding torch. She rotated the hole to the back, covered it with her sweater tied at the waist, and was able to keep her plans for after work that evening. Tillie Edith Bruno was born in Hudson Falls, NY on December 27, 1925. She strongly preferred the nickname Billie, and she would frequently correct those who used her legal first name. She was the 7th child among 11 children of Beatrice Emma (LaPoint) Br...[more]View Full Online Obituary and Tributes
and Charles Frank Bruno. Her mother Beatrice was deaf and mostly mute, and raised her children with a loving charisma despite her limited speech with a wide array of gestures and formal sign-language. To keep pace with the blossoming verbal skills of her children, Billie's mother improved her fluency through the support of her husband Charlie, family, and friends. Billie was the middle daughter of 3 girls, and quickly learned to be independent among her 10-siblings while frequently caring for the other children in the family. The family of 13 lived in a small two-bedroom house in Hudson Falls, NY near Lake George. Her parents built a creamery in the backyard by hand using local stones, and her father sold the dairy products around town using a large horse-drawn wagon. Although Billie was an animal lover, the family had a goat that fell from her good graces after eating her only pair of nylon stockings from the clothesline. Each day, Billie helped her mother bake bread, and make soup from leftovers. She was never fond of soup throughout adulthood as a result. She moved to Rochester, NY with her family, and later met Harold Frances Mitchell while working at AC Delco. They married and had two children, Albert Mitchell of Fort Myers, FL and Cheryl (Mitchell) Fehnel of Rochester, NY. Rare for the time, Billie was a working mother and performed various jobs before becoming a division manager for women's clothing at the former Sibley's department store chain. Billie's first marriage ended in divorce after 20-years, and she later married Robert "Bob" Wightman. They relocated to Olean in New York's southern tier region, where they managed a chain of retail shops. Billie was a nature lover and had a strong connection to animals. Although she would hunt with her husband, she was far more comfortable watching deer gracefully walk by her rifle unharmed. She introduced her young grandsons Aaron Fehnel (Rochester, NY) and Corey Fehnel (Brookline, MA) to the joys of nature. She walked them through the cool waters of rushing streams, played in the mud, encouraged them to run and tumble in the expansive countryside, and taught them to properly bait a hook for fishing. Billie and her husband Bob retired to St. Augustine, FL to be closer to her son Albert. She was a selfless caregiver to others, always seeking to help those in need, and she cared for many of her siblings facing health problems as they aged. She returned to Rochester following the death of her husband Bob after 35-years of marriage, where her daughter Cheryl cared for her for 20-years until the end of her life. Billie cherished the companionship of her toy poodles, "Mickey" and subsequently, "Mickey Jake." She was an avid card player and enjoyed games of poker, "hand and foot," and "spite and malice." She loved the company of others, and most of all, her family. She was an incredible storyteller marked by vivid dialogue that would pull in her audience. Her stories were often accompanied by a sly grin, and an infectious heartfelt chuckle. A private memorial is planned. Donations in her memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association http://act.alz.org or the "Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center Fund" at https://www.rrhgive.org/giving.
