Conover, NC - Hilda A. Holland Hefner, 92, of Conover, NC, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday morning, April 25, 2026, at Catawba Valley Medical Center.

Hilda was born on April 17,1934 in Catawba County, NC to the late Ivey Franklin Abernethy and Bertha Mae Hefner Abernethy. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover but attended Longview Church of God in Hickory, NC.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the following family members: her first husband, Walter C. Holland; second husband, Adrian S. Hefner; brother, Dillard Abernethy; sister, Shirley Sigmon; sister-in-law, Martha Abernethy; brother-in-law, Bud Sigmon; nephews, Tim Sigmon and Kevin Sigmon; granddaughter, Brittany Hannah-Lilley; and special friend, Bob Moody.

She was a devoted mother to her daughters, Linda H. Pless (husband Scott) of Hickory, NC and Patricia H. Lilley of Lewisburg, PA.

Others left to cherish her memory are her sister, Margie Sherrill (husband Arthur Ray) of Conover, NC; seven grandchildren, Jeremy Beal Pless, Angela Pless, and Austin Pless, all of Hickory; Amber Pierce (husband Matthew), Jessica Lilley, and Samantha Reich (husband Brian) all of Pennsylvania; and Tara O'Brien (husband Joe) of New Jersey; 11great grandchildren, Roman Pierce, Annabelle Pierce, Isaiah Pierce, Genevieve Pierce, Lily Reich, Sawyer Reich, all of Pennsylvania; Declan O'Brien and Kieran O'Brien of New Jersey; Lukas Starnes, Logan Starnes and Liam Starnes of Hickory, NC; nieces and nephews, Tony Sherrill (wife Teresa) of Fayetteville, NC; LouRee Botkins (husband Al) of Denver, NC; Donna Abernethy-Shook (husband Johnny) of Hickory; Keith Abernethy (wife Chris) of Claremont, NC; Randy Sigmon (wife Kim) of Statesville, NC, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Two very special people in her life were her grandson Jeremy's daily caregivers, Brian Craddock and Charlie Prunty. She also had a very special friend, Cassandra Starnes, who she loved very much.

Hilda found strength and community in her church family and had a very strong, faithful relationship with her God. Her kindness, spirit and deep love for others touched everyone who knew her. She never met a stranger. She worked in textiles sewing gloves where she met her first husband, Walt. She later went into retail until her position at Catawba General Store (Harris-Teeters) in Newton, NC. She worked there until retirement as a cashier, an associate in the meat market and the deli, where she loved interacting with her customers.

She enjoyed making party trays, decorating at the Zodiac Club, dancing, sewing, playing cards, working crossword and search puzzles, playing golf, traveling with her friends and family, watching her birds outside her window, taking care of her yard, and helping others. She had the most fun driving the golf carts at her granddaughter Angela's event venue, White Iris Ranch in Conover, where she conversed with everybody, even those that did not speak English. Hilda was truly one-of-a-kind, physically and mentally active, even keeping the nurses laughing until her final hours.

A service to celebrate Hilda's life will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 3:00 pm at Bennett Funeral Service Chapel. Pastor E. J. Martin will officiate. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m. at Bennett Funeral Service. Burial will be held on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory. Those serving as pallbearers are Tony Sherrill, Michael Sherrill, Austin Pless, Keith Abernethy, Scott Wolf and Johnny Shook. Lukas Starnes, Logan Starnes and Liam Starnes will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Longview Church of God Children's Ministry, 3776 Main Ave Dr NW, Hickory, NC 28601.

Condolences may be sent to the Hefner family at www.bennettfuneralservice.com.

The Hefner family is in the care of Bennett Funeral Service, 7878 NC Hwy 16, Newton, 828-465-2111.