Elizabeth Hodnik

Our star is lifted home — to her eternal reward — surrounded by family. Elizabeth Madeline Lucara Hodnik, age 100, passed away on June 23, 2018 due to complications of two strokes and pneumonia. Elizabeth was born on November 25, 1917 in Red Lodge, Montana. Her parents, Anna and Joseph Lucara, came to the United States from the northern region of Italy. Elizabeth liked to garden, cook and read, loving to tell stories of her life to all who would visit. She especially liked to walk, going back to her youthful experience as a barefoot cowpuncher — with brother Frank and cousin Joann Roman Fekety — rounding up and driving their small herds across Red Lodge to green fields along Rock Creek and the West Fork. Elizabeth spoke Italian until she went to first grade. In her last months, Elizabeth's ability to punctuate her point-of-view in ‘choice Italian' created special memories. Elizabeth spent her youth in the classrooms of Roosevelt, Field and Lincoln schools; she graduated Carbon County High School in Red Lodge. She often spoke of her oldest brother John pointing out to her parents — with emphasis — the importance of Elizabeth and Frank completing their high school educations. During World War II, she joined the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), where she began training to become a nurse. She finished her training as a registered nurse at hospitals in Great Falls and Havre, Montana. Elizabeth's brother Vic introduced her to Henry Hodnik, the ‘love of her life'. They married in 1947, raising their family of three children in Red Lodge and Billings. Elizabeth and Hank's marriage provided a strong foundation of family values over its course of 64 years. Elizabeth is survived by her son John (Billings) and daughter Pauline Hutchison (Dillon). Grandsons Adam Hutchison (Chelsey) and Douglas Hutchison gave her four great-grandchildren: Raylee, Stevie Jo, Behra and Beau. Elizabeth also is survived by her niece Debra Hodnik and nephews Jim and Joe Hodnik.. She also has nieces and nephews of the Lucara, Zahler and Fekety families across Montana and Wyoming. She always carried with her the fresh memories of times with Rosie, Pat, Dick, Joyce, Francis John, Jody and Coty, Lynette, Anita and David. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her husband Henry Albert, her son Henry Charles, her parents Anna and Joseph Lucara, her Lucara sisters Veronica Ida (Laverne) Zahler and Katherine (Katy) Martin, her Lucara brothers John, Victor (Vic) and Francis (Frank), and Grandma Bregar. Elizabeth's fellow ‘pioneers' Leo V Hodnik and Sylvia Vivian Lucara also preceded, but never left her, in death. Elizabeth held a special place in her heart for her niece Marlene Donelson and Marlene's daughter Vicki, who in Elizabeth's opinion, does all the right stuff. Elizabeth's niece Rosemary Fekety Reynolds is a person who was able to connect all the dots in Elizabeth's mind, bringing out — verbatim and ‘alto voce' — remembered prayers and songs. Our friend Lisa Tryan and Elizabeth shared their diverse insight and worldview, to our benefit. Mother, we miss you. We thank the staff of Footsteps at The Springs Living in Billings for their compassion and care during our Mother's time there. Arrangements are under the direction of Dahl Funeral Chapel. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com. A memorial, graveside service will be in September 2018 at Bearcreek Cemetery in Bearcreek, Montana. Details will be available at the Dahl website.