Marie France Hilgar

Dr. Marie-France Hilgar, 87, of Las Vegas, NV passed away on December 27, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV.

Marie-France Hilgar was born in Saint-Palais-sur-Mer, France to Edouard Srabian and Marie-Andree Srabian (born Marie-Andree Theodon).

Marie-France Hilgar received her Baccalaureat es lettres in 1952, Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with honors in 1963, Master of Arts (MA) from San Francisco State University in 1966 and Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D), French Literature from the University of California, Davis (UCD) in 1971. Marie-France met her husband, Lawrence H. Hilgar, while he was serving in the United States Navy and stationed in southern France. While serving, they were transferred to the United Kingdom for 4 years, and subsequently moved to the United States where she received her US citizenship and continued her higher education. They were happily married for 38 years.

Marie-France taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 1971 until she retired in 2000 and was the Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages from 1975 - 1978. She was well respected and beloved by her students during her tenure at UNLV. She received the following awards: Barrick Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award, UNLV (1985), Distinguished Professor of UNLV (1989) and the Palmes Academique from the French Government (1996). She served as editor, chair, advisor, officer, consultant and board and committee member of numerous academic organizations including but not limited to: Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association, Philological Association of the Pacific Coast, North American Society for Seventeenth Century French Literature, Modern Language Association, Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Omega Chapter, Phi Sigma Iota Foreign Language Honor Society. She authored 5 books, presented more than 120 scholarly papers and wrote more than 70 articles during her academic career.

Marie-France was President and the driving force of the French Alliance of Southern Nevada. She was also a board member of the National French Alliance. She was a member and attended Our Lady of Victory, a Catholic church conducting traditional Latin mass in Las Vegas since December 1985.

Marie-France is preceded in death by Lawrence H. Hilgar (Spouse), Annette Srabian de Fabry (sister) and Jean Srabian (brother) and John H. Hilgar II (grandson).

Marie-France is survived by her children: John H, Andrew H, Marie-Florence and Grace L; Grandchildren: Fawn, Lawrence, Timothy, Shara, Zachariah, Louis and Jeremy,

Great Grandchildren: Savannah, Lilly, Chelsea, Kevin, Caroline, Hadley, Ella and Max.

The family would appreciate donations in her name to St Joseph’s Academy, 57575 Romeo Plank Road, Ray Township, MI 48096

Grave site funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Davis Memorial Park, 6200 S Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119. Services will be provided by Father Kenneth Novak from Our Lady of Victory. They family requests anyone attending to please follow social distancing and wear masks.